Brasília – The World Health Organization has established five targets in the area of buccal hygiene for the world's nations. Brazil has managed to reach one of them: number of cavities in children between the ages of 6 and 12.

Speaking at the opening of the 3rd National Conference on Buccal Hygiene, on Friday, minister of Health, Humberto Costa, declared that there is little for Brazil to celebrate and much to do. "We only reached one target out of five," said the minister.

WHO says that up to the age of 12 children should only have three cavities. In Brazil, the average is 2.8. The other targets were: percentage of children at the age of 5 who do not have cavities; percentage of youths age 18 with all their teeth, percentage of adults (35 to 44) with 20 or more teeth; percentage of senior citizens with 20 or more teeth.

Brazil plans to spend US$428 million (R$1.3 billion) on buccal hygiene by the year 2006, which will be a historica record.

Brazil is estimated to have 8 million people who do not have teeth. Another 30 million have never been to the dentist. Around 60 million Brazilians (40% of the population) do not regularly brush their teeth.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Caio d´Arcanchy
Translator: Allen Bennett
08/02/2004