UK - 50% of 5-year-olds suffering from tooth decay

50% of 5-year-olds suffering from tooth decay
22 May 2007
The British Dental Health Foundation has stated that despite the huge amounts of progress gained in dental healthcare for the under-fives in the last 30 years, half of all five-year-olds still suffer from tooth decay.
While the initiatives to remove harmful sugars from children's food and drinks had certainly helped to lower the amount of dental problems, snacking and access to fizzy drinks has meant that many children are still at risk of fillings or even having teeth removed.
Dr. Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said: "What we've seen as well over that time is the change from three square meals a day into seven to 10 'snack attacks', and the constant sipping of fizzy drinks.
"That's starting to cause a problem with children's teeth and we think we're beginning to see the signs of an increase, or certainly a levelling off in the reduction and possibly even an increase [in tooth decay among children]."
There was some good news however, such as the fact that the decay figures had halved in recent times and that since fluoride had been introduced to Britain's toothpastes in the 1970s, in general the nation's teeth and gums were healthier.