Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 4

Written Answers. - Dental Health.

John Gormley

Question:

297 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if he can make available figures of the tooth brushing habits here and those in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7384/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

In 1999, the World Health Organisation published an international survey of health behaviour in school aged children in 28 countries. The results of this survey show that Ireland is in the bottom quarter of the following table for students who report brushing their teeth more than once a day.

The first national survey of the oral health of Irish adults conducted in 1989-90 shows that over 80% of adults aged over 16 years claimed to brush their teeth more than once a day. The second national survey of adult dental health is under way in health boards. This will be followed by a national survey of children's dental health that will be undertaken in the later half of this year.

Students who reported brushing their teeth more than once a day (%)

Country	11 Years old	Female	Male	13 Years old	Female	Male	15 Years old	Female	Male
Sweden	88	82	90	81	92	82
Denmark	85	80	88	79	88	78
Switzerland	84	78	84	77	89	73
Germany*	82	69	79	66	82	66
USA	75	65	81	66	82	63
England	76	62	82	60	84	64
Norway	72	65	74	62	82	64
Czech Republic	73	60	73	54	77	56
Austria	73	58	74	55	79	61
Northern Ireland	75	55	76	50	84	56
Russian Federation*	72	56	70	57	74	53
Portugal	73	54	76	51	78	56
Wales	71	56	76	56	82	60
Israel	69	57	73	54	71	54
France*	69	54	76	60	79	53
Scotland	66	57	73	56	78	56
Greenland	70	53	71	44	69	52
Poland	70	52	74	55	79	52
Canada	67	55	74	56	80	59
Hungary	64	49	68	47	78	55
Slovakia	66	47	69	47	74	47
Estonia	65	46	69	47	69	48
Latvia	63	47	56	39	65	42
Ireland	61	47	67	44	74	46
Greece	53	42	53	36	64	35
Lithuania	47	36	47	27	53	33
Belgium (Flemish)	44	33	55	35	62	42
Finland	42	28	50	28	61	31

*France, Germany and Russia are represented only by regions.

John Gormley

Question:

298 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if he can supply figures on the confectionary consumption habits of Irish people and those in other EU countries and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7385/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The details requested by the Deputy regarding confectionary consumption habits of other EU countries are not available. With regard to confectionary consumption habits of Irish people, the survey of lifestyle, attitudes and nutrition, SLÁN, and the Irish health behaviour in school aged children, HBSC, survey provide data on the general eating habits of the population. These results, from 1998, defined confectionery as chocolate, sweets, toffees, mints, and sugar added to drinks. The mean intake in grams per day for various groups is: Overall Average 28.47 grams per day.

Average	Male	31.76
	Female	25.58
18-34 years	Male	44.26
	Female	31.78
35-54 years	Male	27.23
	Female	25.05
55+ years	Male	20.97
	Female	17.01

John Gormley

Question:

299 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if he can supply figures for the average decayed, missing and filled teeth here in 1960; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7386/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

Information on the average numbers of decayed, missing and filled, DMF, teeth in 1960 is not available. However surveys carried out under the auspices of the Health Research Council of Ireland in the period 1961-63 indicate that the average number of DMF deciduous teeth of children aged four to nine years was 5.33 and the average number of DMF permanent teeth of children aged eight to 16 years was 5.57.