Almost Half Of British Children Suffer From Tooth Decay
A study has revealed that almost half of British children have tooth decay.
The alarming statistics were highlighted by a study conducted by Aquafresh, which was carried out to assess standards of oral health among children. The study also revealed that over a million children under the age of five years old have at least two fillings and 17 per cent of mothers admitted that their child has at least three fillings. The study focused on children aged between three and twelve years old.
Thirteen per cent of mothers said that their child had a filling by the time they started school at the age of 4 and 2 per cent of mothers said that their child never brushes their teeth.
Twenty four per cent of mothers said that their child brushes their teeth only once a day, while 12 per cent of mothers admitted that they often have arguments with their child when it comes to teeth cleaning time. Another worry is that 18 per cent of mothers said that their child had not visited their dentist in the last 18 months, despite the fact that dentists recommend routine check-ups every six to twelve months.
Dr Tina Tanna, a leading dentist from Chertsey, Surrey, said that the results of the study were alarming but not surprising, as dental decay is one of the most common preventable illnesses among children in the UK and it is well-documented that it is difficult for parents to ensure that their children brush their teeth twice a day.
Katharine Osmond, brand manager at Aquafresh, said that the company had drawn-up a list of handy tips to help parents with teeth cleaning and getting children involved in oral hygiene.
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