The BBC has found out from a national dental health survey that nearly half of eight-year-olds and a third of five-year-olds have signs of decay in their baby teeth. This crazy number is a worrying amount. What can we do? The 2013 Children's Dental Health Survey for England, Wales and Northern Ireland also found that 46% of 15-year-olds had decay in their teeth. That’s nearly half!
Despite this studies also show the immense decrease of decayed teeth compared to 10 years ago is a dramatic but good difference. The percentage of 12-year-olds affected by tooth decay fell from 43% in 2003 to 34% in 2013. In 15-year-olds, there was a reduction from 56% to 46%.
We all know that tooth decay is completely preventable with the right amount of brushing, taking care and free for children NHS dental appointments. But large amounts of children continue to be affected by oral disease across the UK. Older children who were affected by oral health problems said they had impacted on their lives on a daily basis. What can be done to prevent this? How can we reduce the staggering number?
Katarina
Despite this studies also show the immense decrease of decayed teeth compared to 10 years ago is a dramatic but good difference. The percentage of 12-year-olds affected by tooth decay fell from 43% in 2003 to 34% in 2013. In 15-year-olds, there was a reduction from 56% to 46%.
We all know that tooth decay is completely preventable with the right amount of brushing, taking care and free for children NHS dental appointments. But large amounts of children continue to be affected by oral disease across the UK. Older children who were affected by oral health problems said they had impacted on their lives on a daily basis. What can be done to prevent this? How can we reduce the staggering number?
Katarina