Health Report - Long Life Doesn't Always Mean a Healthy Life

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Cavities	London	Nearly	a	and	decay	diets	eat	in
is	leading	of	officials	oral	recent	report	says
softer	teeth	the	this	through	to	untreated	used

4 billion people around the world have serious, problems with their teeth. That is what a report from the World Health Organization says. Health say failure to repair cavities can even lead social and emotional problems. Wagner Marcenes is with Institute of Dentistry at Queen Mary, University of . He led a team of researchers as part the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study. They the information to estimate rates of infection. The says untreated tooth decay is the most common all 291 major diseases and injuries. Professor Marcenes increases in tooth decay are affecting sub-Saharan Africa probably other areas on the continent. He says increase in tooth decay could be a result changes in diet, as developing countries adopt western-style . Many western diets are rich in sugar, a cause of health problems in the mouth. But, western countries, water supplies are often treated with chemical fluoride. Adding fluoride to the water makes resistant to the bacteria that can cause tooth . Wagner Marcenes says oral health problems can have major effect on a person's quality of life. make eating difficult. As a result, people may softer foods that are easier to chew. However, foods are often higher in fat. Professor Marcenes calling for an "urgent, organized, social response" to health problems. He believes in fighting tooth decay a healthier diet. He is also calling for development of new and less costly dental materials treatments. For VOA Learning English, I'm Mario Ritter.

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