Tooth decay epidemic among kids

TOLEDO, Ohio - Tooth decay is becoming a big problem in the United States, especially among kids.

The top reasons for tooth decay among children are diets and habits, followed by a lack of brushing.

"We're all drinking the sports drinks, soda-pop and stuff like that and probably the bottled water instead of tap water, because we're not getting that natural fluoride into our systems," said r. Joseph Brennan of Dental Health Associates.

Dr. Brennan says in today's society kids are constantly on the go and they're probably not brushing as much as they should.

"It's up to epidemic status in the United States," he said. "It's everywhere, especially in some of the poorer countries are really running into a problem because it's cheaper to get coke than it is to get milk. So a lot of kids have a ton of cavities."

If you're brushing your child's teeth and you see dark spots on the surface, there's a good chance that's a cavity.

"I mean it could be staining, but baby teeth don't stain as easy as adult teeth, and they don't drink coffee and stuff like that," Dr. Brennan said.

If your child is complaining about sensitivity when they chew or drink cold liquids, that's a sign there maybe a cavity, Dr. Brennan said. You should schedule an appointment.