Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Monday 4 February 2019

Study: Many small kids in U.S. are using too much toothpaste

By MIKE STOBBE and the toothpaste.” as many as 2 out of 5 ado-
AP Medical Writer Fluoride is a mineral found lescents.
NEW YORK (AP) — Too in water and soil. More The new study did not fol-
many young kids are using than 70 years ago, scien- low the kids through time
too much toothpaste, in- tists discovered that peo- or try to determine how
creasing their risk of streaky ple whose drinking water many developed streaked
or splotchy teeth when naturally had more fluoride or spotty teeth as a result of
they get older, according also had fewer cavities. using too much toothpaste.
to a government survey re- That led to efforts to add The authors acknowledged
leased Thursday. fluoride to tap water, tooth- other limitations. Parents
About 40 percent of kids paste, mouthwash and might have misremem-
ages 3 to 6 used a brush other products. Experts say bered how much tooth-
that was full or half-full of fluoride had helped drive paste kids used when they
toothpaste, even though down rates of tooth decay were younger. Also, the
experts recommend no in U.S. teens and adults. survey didn’t ask specifi-
more than a pea-sized This Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 file photo shows toothpaste on a But too much fluoride when cally about what kinds of
amount, the study found. toothbrush in Marysville, Pa. teeth are forming can lead toothpaste were used; not
The Centers for Disease Associated Press to tooth streaking or spot- all kinds of children’s tooth-
Control and Prevention But the amount is impor- Mary Hayes, a pediatric tiness — known as dental paste have fluoride in them.
findings were based on a tant. Children under 3 are dentist in Chicago. fluorosis. In extreme cases, The study found about 60
survey of parents of more only supposed to use a Young kids may push for teeth can be pitted by the percent of kids brushed
than 5,000 kids ages 3 to 15. smear of toothpaste the independence in brushing mineral, though many cas- their teeth twice a day.
Health officials recom- size of a grain of rice. Kids 3 their teeth, but kids’ tooth- es are so mild only dentists It also found that roughly
mend that all people drink to 6 are supposed to keep paste tastes sweet. notice it. 20 percent of white and
fluoridated water, and that it to a pea-sized amount. “You don’t want them eat- Past studies have suggest- black kids, and 30 percent
everyone 2 or older brush “Fluoride is a wonderful ing it like food,” Hayes said. ed fluorosis has been in- of Hispanic kids, didn’t start
twice a day with fluoride benefit but it needs to be “We want the parent to be creasing for at least three brushing until they were 3 or
toothpaste. used carefully,” said Dr. in charge of the toothbrush decades, and can affect older.q

Hong Kong makes record seizure of pangolin scales, ivory

By VIOLET LAW astation of wild elephant grams (24.2 pounds) of rhi-
Associated Press populations in Africa. no horns from Africa worth
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Under Hong Kong law, the $700,000. A Chinese man
Kong customs officers have importation and sales of and a Thai wildlife quaran-
intercepted a record 8.3 endangered species and tine officer accused of as-
tons of pangolin scales and their products can be pun- sisting the smugglers were
hundreds of elephant tusks ished by up to 10 years in also arrested.
worth more than $8 million prison and a fine of $1.3 Citing a lack of evidence,
combined, underscoring million. China and Hong the Samut Prakan Provin-
the threat to endangered Kong have sought to crack cial Court found Boonchai
species from demand in down on the illegal trade, Bach not guilty of multiple
Asia. although the semiautono- charges relating to wildlife
Acting on a tip from main- mous port and financial trafficking, Freeland said.
land Chinese authorities, lo- center remains a major Boonchai was suspected
cal officials found the haul transit point for endan- of running a large traffick-
in mid-January in a refriger- In this June 6, 2017, file photo, animal conservation activists hold gered species products ing network on the Thai-
ated container labeled as pictures of elephants being killed for their ivory tusks, outside and other contraband. Lao border that spread
frozen meat from Nigeria, the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. Last year, following the into Vietnam. According
officials said Friday. Associated Press outlawing of ivory sales to Freeland, he and his
They said the smugglers in Hong Kong, represent- tional Chinese medicine. in mainland China, Hong family played a key role in
kept the temperature low ing the product of some The scales, made of keratin Kong’s legislature enacted a criminal syndicate that
to better disguise the smell 14,000 animals, and one of akin to fingernails, are often a complete ban on the lo- smuggled items including
of the illicit cargo. Police ar- the largest of ivory in a de- roasted and ground to a cal ivory trade to take ef- ivory, rhino horn, pangolins,
rested two people in con- cade, the officials said. powder before being add- fect by 2021, while raising tigers, lions and other rare
nection with the seizure. Scales of the anteater-like ed into a mix of ingredients penalties for offenders. and endangered species.
It was the largest-ever sei- pangolin have for centuries to purportedly cure arthritis, Meanwhile, a court in Thai- “Prosecution of a complex
zure of pangolin scales been highly valued in tradi- promote breast feeding for land this week dismissed transnational organized
mothers and boost male vi- charges against a Thai man crime case like this requires
rility. believed to be a kingpin in a multi-agency effort to
Scientists have designated the illicit trade, according bring all the pieces of the
all species of pangolins as to Freeland, an organiza- puzzle together,” said Ste-
being at risk of extinction. tion that works with police ven Galster, founder of
In the last two decades, to combat trafficking. Freeland. “Instead, we saw
the number of pangolins Boonchai Bach was arrest- a kingpin walk free after
worldwide has dropped by ed by Thai police just over a narrowly focused case
about 90 percent. one year ago at Bangkok’s fell apart when the pros-
Ivory tusks are a cherished Suvarnabhumi airport for ecution’s only major wit-
decorative craft material his alleged involvement in ness flipped in front of his
in Asia, resulting in the dev- the smuggling of 11 kilo- boss.”q