Thousands of toddlers losing their milk teeth to sugar

TODDLERS are increasingly having their milk teeth extracted before they fall out naturally because their diets have become so sugary, research has found.

NHS figures obtained by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) show there were 9,206 tooth extractions performed on children aged four and un- der in 2015-16, an increase of 24 per cent since 2006-07.

Experts have warned that a “relentless” diet of high-sugar food and drink is beginning from the cradle, with parents commonly giving their children products such as Ribena before they can even walk.

The research by the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS), part of the RCS, is the first time that long-term data for this age group have been published. The faculty said nine out of 10 cases of tooth decay could have been prevented, but that poor knowledge of oral health among midwives, nurses and even many GPs meant parents were often unaware of the risks.

“When you see the numbers tallied up like this it becomes abundantly clear that the sweet habits of our children are having a devastating effect on the state of their teeth,” said Prof Nigel Hunt, Dean of the FDS, who last night called for all children to be taken to the dentist before their first birthday.

Of the 84,086 tooth extractions on children aged four and under between 2006-07 and 2015-16, 47 were performed on infants under the age of one. The data are set against a 16 per cent rise in the population of children aged four

and under during the same period. The new analysis also shows that tooth extractions on children aged nine and under reached more than 34,000 in each of the last two years.

The Government has pledged to tackle childhood sugar consumption by means of the Soft Drinks Levy, scheduled to come into force in 2018, whereby manufacturers will be taxed for the amount of sugar they use in their products.

However, Prof Hunt questioned whether the measure went far enough. “Children can eat their daily amount of sugar at mealtimes with no problem, but constantly snacking between meals and bathing their teeth in fizzy drinks gives them no chance,” he said.

“Removal of teeth, especially in hospital under general anaesthetic, is not to be taken lightly.” He added that parents were also serving their children fruit juice without realising it also has a high sugar content.

Prof Hunt also whose first contact with dentistry was to have a tooth removed were less likely to continue to visit the dentist. He said extracting milk teeth increased the chances of crowding of adult teeth and the need for braces.

The FDS report highlighted previous statistics which showed that, despite NHS dental treatment being free for under-18s, 42 per cent of children did not see a dentist in 2015-16.

The organisation is calling for a “significant proportion” of any money raised by the Soft Drinks Levy to be spent on educating children about oral health. Currently, the plan is to spend the cash on initiative to get children more fit and active.

Dr Jenny Godson, in charge of oral health improvement at Public Health England, said: “Tooth decay is preventable and we can all take action – this includes limiting sugary food and drink, making sure children brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, especially before bed, and visiting the dentist regularly.”