Oral Health is important
- Many young children in England suffer from tooth decay.
- Tooth decay, if left untreated, can cause pain, infection and difficulty chewing.
- Many children end up in hospitals for tooth extractions due to tooth decay.
- Tooth decay can lead to missed school days. Also, parents may need to take time off work to accompany their children to dental appointments or for post-treatment care.
- In 2024, the NHS spent approximately £45.8 million in tooth extractions related to tooth decay.
The picture above shows a child with tooth decay in primary teeth (the first set of teeth). Image generated using AI.
Tooth decay is more common among children in poor and rural areas, and among some ethnic groups.
The graph below shows the increase in the proportion of 5-year-old children with tooth decay across different levels of area deprivation.
Data from Oral Health Survey of 5-year-old children 2022
References:
- Child oral health: applying All Our Health. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-oral-health-applying-all-our-health/child-oral-health-applying-all-our-health
- Short statistical commentary for hospital tooth extractions in 0 to 19 year olds 2024. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hospital-tooth-extractions-in-0-to-19-year-olds-2024/short-statistical-commentary-for-hospital-tooth-extractions-in-0-to-19-year-olds-2024#:~:text=The%20costs%20were%20%C2%A374.8,most%20common%20tooth%20extraction%20procedure)