A quarter of young children in parts of Gloucestershire have tooth decay, figures confirm
Figures show that a quarter of young children in Gloucester and the Forest of Dean have tooth decay.
Statistics from the most recent dental survey, which was conducted in 2019, revealed that 25% of under 5s in some parts of the county have signs of dental decay. Figures for the entire county suggest that 19.5% of under 5s have decayed teeth, but in the Forest of Dean and Gloucester, the numbers are particularly concerning. Over 26% of children in the Forest of Dean and 24.7% of under 5s in Gloucester have decay. The average for the South West is 20.4%.
There are significant differences in rates of decay across the county. While figures show that more than a quarter of under 5s in the Forest of Dean have decayed teeth, in Stroud, the number is just 12.8%. This is well below the average for England, which is 23.4%.
The most recent data is taken from a 2019 survey and health experts and dentists are worried that rates will have risen substantially by the next study. Routine appointments are difficult to come by in the region and many children missed out on dental checks and preventative services during the lockdowns. There are also treatment backlogs, which mean that children and adults are waiting longer to see a dentist.
Speciality registrar in public health, Beth Smout, said that the average rate of decay in the county is lower than that of the region and the country as a whole, but in some areas, numbers are significantly higher than in others. She stressed that authorities are using targeted measures to try to reduce the prevalence of decay and improve standards of oral health in towns with the highest rates.
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