Sheffield Children Have the Worst Dental Health in the Country, Figures Confirm
New research has confirmed that children in Sheffield have the worst dental health in the country.
Statistics from the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre showed that 1,140 children aged between 0 and 10 years old had decayed teeth removed in hospital in 2014/2015. This was the highest rate in the country. Figures for other South Yorkshire towns including Doncaster and Rotherham were also alarmingly high.
Greg Fell, director of public health in Sheffield, said that the latest figures provided a “stark reminder” of the prevalence of decay in children. The worrying thing is that dental decay is a preventable disease and the vast majority of these cases could have been avoided. Mr Fell confirmed that the council is working with the NHS and local organisations to promote good oral health and help parents and children to reduce their risk of tooth decay. Children in the city have been provided with brushing packs and schools have also been sent a DVD called Top Teeth, which is designed to teach children how to look after their teeth. Some schools and nurseries are running supervised brushing schemes.
Mr Fell said that it was essential for parents to ensure that children brush their teeth twice a day, every day. Diet is also an important consideration. Children today have a very sugary diet and this is undoubtedly contributing to high rates of dental decay. Reducing sugar intake and improving oral hygiene will help to boost oral health standards across the region.
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