27% of five-year-olds have tooth decay
Despite an overall improvement in the number of children free of tooth decay, over 27% of five-year-olds have tooth decay according to a survey published today (20 September 2013) by Public Health England. Children with decay have on average between three and four teeth affected by decay, treated or untreated.
The study ‘National Dental Epidemiology Programme for England, oral health survey of five-year-old children 2012’ is the second national survey undertaken; the previous was in 2008. Four year trends show overall improvements in decay and its severity in young children and the 2012 survey found:
- overall tooth decay in five-year-olds has reduced from 30.9% to 27.9%
- the proportion of children with untreated decay has reduced from 27.5% to 24.5%
- children with sepsis in their mouths has reduced from 2.3% to 1.7% since 2008
- 72.1% of five-year-olds are free from tooth decay, up from 69.1% in 2008
Levels of decay vary regionally with more children in northern regions with tooth decay than those in the south and eastern regions. Levels of decay ranged from 21.2% of five-year-olds in the South East to 34.8% in the North West. Decay levels are higher in the more deprived local authorities.
Lord Howe, Health Minister, said:
"We know more work is needed to make sure good oral health is more consistent right across the country. Every child should have the opportunity to grow up with a healthy smile.
"However, we have some of the lowest decay rates in the world and more 70% of children in England are completely free of tooth decay.
"Dental teams have worked incredibly hard to improve oral health and more than a million new patients have seen an NHS dentist since May 2010. I am confident that decay levels will continue to fall."
Professor Kevin Fenton, Director of Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England said:
"This latest survey shows the numbers of five-year-olds free from tooth decay have improved but there is still much to do, dental decay is preventable. Parents should brush their children’s teeth for at least two minutes, twice a day, once just before bedtime and at least one other time during the day. Also supervise tooth brushing until your child is seven or eight-years-old, either by brushing their teeth yourself or, if they brush their own teeth, by watching how they do it.
!From the 1 April 2013 local authorities are responsible for assessing the oral health needs of their local population, developing oral health strategies and commissioning oral health improvement programmes. We will be providing support to local authorities and are currently developing commissioning guides starting with a focus on the needs of young children.
"A revised version of Delivering Better Oral Health will be published in 2014. This evidence informed toolkit for prevention will be distributed to all NHS practices in England so they can give the best advice to patients about self-care for themselves and their children."
