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Tooth decay is the destruction or breakdown of tooth enamel, the hard outer coating of the teeth. Despite being largely preventable, tooth decay is a chronic disease in Australia. <\/span>Recent research reveals that 1 in 3 Australian adults<\/span><\/a>\u00a0have untreated tooth decay. By five years of age, 1 in 3 children aged 5-6 has already had tooth decay<\/a> in a baby tooth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Because tooth enamel is considerably thinner and softer on baby teeth, it places them at a higher risk of decay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There is a common misconception that it doesn’t matter if young children lose their baby teeth early as they will be replaced anyway. Primary teeth help children speak and eat. But did you know they also act as placeholders for permanent teeth? The early loss of baby teeth can lead to potential spacing issues as the permanent teeth erupt, which is why kids’ dental health is so important from the get-go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\nWhat causes teeth to decay in young children? The importance of kids dental health<\/b><\/h2>\n