The elderly in China have little to smile about when it comes to dental health, according to a survey by the Ministry of Health.

It shows people over the age of 65 lose about 11 teeth in their lifetime, and 7 percent of them are toothless.

"Some 98.4 percent of people aged between 65 and 74 suffer from tooth decay, and 92 percent do not receive treatment," according to the third national survey on oral health, which was released on Wednesday.

"As the Chinese population ages, dental health must not be neglected," said Qi Xiaoqiu, director of the ministry's disease control bureau.

The survey, based on World Health Organization standards, shows nearly 66 percent of China's five-year-olds have decayed teeth, down 11 percent from a decade ago.

The childhood dental disease rate in European countries is 30 percent, say experts.

Lack of awareness, inadequate education and bad habits, such as eating sweets before bedtime, contribute to the rising tooth-decay rate among Chinese children.

The survey indicates the dental health of urban residents is better than people in the countryside, and that women have better teeth than men.

"Chinese people's dental health has not greatly improved with the country's rapid economic development," Qi said, adding that more effective oral health programs should be introduced in rural areas.

Xinhua

(China Daily 06/15/2007 page5)