Tooth decay is the most common oral disease affecting children and young people in England, yet it is largely preventable. Just under a quarter of all children in England have experience of tooth decay by the age of age of five. These children are likely to go on to have a lifetime of poor oral health with associated health and financial costs.
In 2019 there were significant inequalities with 5-year-old children from the most deprived areas having more than twice the level of decay (34%) than those from the least deprived (14%).
In 2019/20 tooth extraction was the most common reason for 6 to 10-year olds to be admitted to hospital, almost 9 out of 10 hospital tooth extractions among children aged 0 to 5 years were due to preventable tooth decay.
The cost to the NHS of treating oral conditions in 2018/19 was £2.9 billion and in the financial year 2019/20 the estimated costs of hospital admissions for all tooth extractions for children aged 0 to 19-years were £54.6 million
Early childhood tooth decay is associated with delays in speech and language development, school absence and school readiness. Tooth decay can lead to pain, affect sleep and the ability to eat and it can also impact on the family, as parents or carers may need to take time off work to take their child for treatment. The cost to the NHS of treating oral conditions is about £3.4 billion per year and in the financial year 2015 to 2016, the cost of tooth extractions in hospital was approximately £50.5 million among children aged 0 to 19 years.
Tooth decay could be prevented by cutting down on sugar containing foods and drinks, as well as brushing teeth daily with fluoride toothpaste.
