ONE IN SIX CHILDREN HAVE ROTTING TEETH
Poor kids worst hit, shock survey shows
ALMOST one in six 10 and 11-yearolds have rotting teeth, a damning report reveals.
The Oral Health Survey of 53,000 Year 6 schoolchildren found 16% had decay.
Those from the poorest areas were most likely to suffer at 23%. It was 10% in the least deprived areas.
Youngsters with decaying molars had an average of two going bad, the study found. It comes after the Mirror launched a campaign to tackle the collapse in access to NHS dentists. Last year four in 10 children were found not to be getting regular teeth checks.
Eddie Crouch, chairman of the British Dental Association, said: “For a generation, ministers have failed to grasp that decay and deprivation go hand in hand.”
The poll was commissioned by 125 local authorities, with around 250 children surveyed in each area. It revealed 3% of pupils had pain in their teeth or mouths often or very often while 2% reported difficulty biting firm foods in the past three months. Shadow Health Minister Preet Kaur Gill said: “The Conservatives have left NHS dentistry to rot.
“Labour has a fully costed plan to rescue NHS dentistry by gripping the immediate crisis and reforming the service in the long-term.” Plans include a national toothbrushing scheme for kids of three to five paid for by axing the non-domiciled tax status loophole.
Tooth decay is the most common reason for hospital admission in children aged six to 10.
The Department of Health said about 800,000 more children saw an NHS dentist last year and it was increasing dental training places by 40%.