A Decline In The Number Of English Five-Year-Olds With Tooth Decay
Over a quarter of England’s five-year-olds are suffering with tooth decay. However, a recent survey suggests a decline in figures.
Public Health England carried out the analysis, which examined the findings from 133,000 dental check-ups throughout England, which covered 21% of five-year-olds. The survey suggested that 27% of five-year-olds in the country suffered with tooth decay, which was slightly less than 2008’s figure of 30%.
However, even with the decline the British Dental Association (BDA) commented on how a “deep chasm” still split those living in the best and worst areas. As expected the most deprived areas had the higher level of tooth decay. Those in the South East were found to have around 21.2% of five-year-olds with decay, while those in the North West had 34.8%.
The cause of tooth decay mainly involves the build up of plaque on the teeth, which occurs due to diets high in sugar and poor oral health. A lack of access to affordable dental care also means that small holes in the teeth develop into cavities when they are left untreated. A visit to the dentist can reveal potential problems before they evolve into a serious condition, but many in deprived areas are unable to afford the cost of check-ups coupled with the cost of dental treatments.
The normal number of teeth for a five-year-old is 20, with those with decay suffering with around three to four decayed teeth. The study found that around 3% of those children with decay had to undergo tooth extraction, which had to be carried out in hospital under an anaesthetic.
However, positively recent years have brought improvements, with 72% of five-year-olds free from decay in comparison with 69% who had the problem in 2008. One suggestion for the rise according to Public Health England is the additional levels of fluoride in children’s toothpaste.
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