WASHINGTON, June 13 (UPI) -- A study comparing fluoride toothpaste in 48 countries found it is too expensive for the world's poorest people, U.S. and Dutch researchers said.
Ann Goldman of George Washington University in Washington; Robert Yee and Christopher Holmgren of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre at Radboud University Medical Centre in Nijmegen, the Netherlands and Habib Benzian of the FDI World Dental Federation say globalization has led to a worldwide tendency to eat a more westernized diet, which is higher in carbohydrates and refined sugars.
As a result, there is an increasing prevalence of tooth decay in developing countries, which can lead to malnutrition and a reduced quality of life. The cost and relative unavailability of dental care in poorer countries means that tooth decay usually remains untreated.
Fluoride toothpaste is the most widely used method of preventing dental decay, but currently only 12.5 percent of the world benefits.
The study, published in the journal Globalization and Health, showed that in different income groups in various countries, as the per capita income decreased, the proportion of income needed to purchase a year's supply of toothpaste increased.
