California Children Have Bad Teeth

The L.A.Daily News reports:

Almost two-thirds of California's youngsters have dental disease by the time they reach third grade, making it the No. 1 children's health problem in the state, says a study released today by the Dental Health Foundation.

And among the 25 states surveyed, California ranked second to only Arkansas for the incidence of dental disease among its children.

"This is a serious epidemic," said Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, the health officer for Los Angeles County. "We know there is a lot more that needs to be done. I think first among them is making sure everyone has access to fluoridated water."

Fielding noted that only four of the 88 cities in the county - Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Long Beach and Pico Rivera - fluoridate their water, a process shown to prevent tooth decay.

Wouldn't you expect better from a Blue state?