Down Syndrome and Oral Healthcare

Down Syndrome and Oral Healthcare: Cavities

Children and young adults who have Down syndrome have fewer cavities than people without this developmental disability. Several conditions may contribute to this fact:
 
  • Delayed development of primary and permanent teeth
  • Missing permanent teeth
  • Small-sized teeth with wider spaces between them, which make it easier to remove plaque
  • The diets of many children with Down syndrome are closely supervised to prevent obesity; this helps reduce consumption of sugary foods and beverages.
     
By contrast, some adults with Down syndrome are at an increased risk of cavities.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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