As many as 47.2 percent of local children aged 3 have tooth decay, while over 90 percent of middle-aged and elderly people have periodontal problems, the Shanghai Health Commission reported yesterday, National Tooth Care Day.

As a result children and the elderly are major targets of health management.

The city’s three-year health action plan has included dental health service for children and the elderly, said Dr Liu Yuehua, president of Shanghai Stomatology Hospital.

“Dental care will be offered for the first 1,000 days for a child, which means the pregnancy and infant period, and the elderly, who usually have chronic diseases,” he said. “A full-process management and health care launched by community health centers and hospitals will be offered for screening, education, diagnosis and treatment.”

Experts said a high intake of sugar, fat and salt leads to dental diseases and other chronic illness such as coronary diseases, diabetes, stroke, obesity and cancer.

A healthy diet and lifestyle can not only prevent chronic diseases but also benefit tooth development.