Kids’ dental care decays

ONE in three children do not brush their teeth twice a day and their bad habits are combining with sugary diets to produce an epidemic of rotten teeth.

New research by the Royal Children’s Hospital reveals one in 10 children are now having decayed teeth removed before they even turn nine, while a third of primary school students have at least one filling.

The situation is so dire that about one in 20 preschoolers are having to attend hospital for general anaesthetic to deal with dental issues.

Confusion among parents means many are shunning dental check-ups until their child has already developed serious problems.