Map shows England’s childhood dental crisis – and the areas where young people are more likely to be affected by tooth decay

Almost two-thirds of children in parts of the country have rotten teeth, according to official figures.

Statistics on the dental crisis in England have shown that three in ten five-year-olds across the country suffer from tooth enamel or tooth decay.

But in Cambridge it is 63.6 per cent, according to data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID).

In Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, just 3.4 per cent of young people are affected – the lowest rate in the country.

Tooth decay is caused by too much sugar and insufficient cleaning of teeth and gums.

Health chiefs warn children’s ability to eat, smile and socialize could be affected, while some may miss school due to pain and infection.

Dentists have attributed a “collapse” in service during the pandemic to worsening children’s oral health, as millions of children missed appointments.

Dentists have attributed a “collapse” in service during the pandemic to worsening children’s oral health as millions of children missed appointments

The data was collected as part of the National Dental Epidemiology Programme’s sixth survey of five-year-olds in England, conducted during the 2021-2022 school year.

It was the first time levels of tooth decay were recorded, which the report said would highlight children with early-stage tooth decay who would previously have been classified as free of dental problems.

A total of 62,649 children were included in the analysis, representing 9.1 per cent of the English five-year-old population.

The results show that 29.3 percent of the group had enamel or dentin decay.

And 23.7 percent had the more severe tooth decay.

In this group, an average of three to four teeth were affected in 20 five-year-olds.

After Cambridge, the local authorities with the highest prevalence of enamel or tooth decay were Pendle (56.9 per cent), Peterborough (56.4 per cent), Blackburn with Darwen (54.9 per cent) and East Cambridgeshire (52.6 per cent).

And after Cannock Chase, the areas with the lowest rates of decline were North Hertfordshire (7.7 per cent), Derbyshire Dales (9.2 per cent), Brighton and Hove (9.9 per cent) and Rushcliffe (10.7 per cent).

The results also show that progress in improving children’s dental health has stalled. Caries fell by more than seven percent between 2008 and 2017 – from 30.9 to 23.3 percent. But that number rose to 23.7 percent in 2022

Prices varied significantly by region. Only 23.3 percent of five-year-olds in the South West had some decline. However, in the Northwest, the number peaked at 38.7 percent

However, of the 309 lower local authorities in England, 74 did not collect data on young people’s dental health or did not take part in the study.

Prices varied significantly by region. Only 23.3 percent of five-year-olds in the South West had some decline. However, in the Northwest, the number peaked at 38.7 percent.

And those living in the poorest areas were almost three times more likely to suffer from tooth decay than those in the wealthiest parts of the country.

Eddie Crouch, president of the British Dental Association, said: “The oral health gap in England is widening, but ministers are asleep at the wheel.

“We keep hearing the right noises, but see literally no action to break the link between decay and deprivation.”

The results also show that progress in improving children’s dental health has stalled.

Caries fell by more than seven percent between 2008 and 2017 – from 30.9 to 23.3 percent. But that number rose to 23.7 percent in 2022.

Covid and a labor shortage are to blame for the dental crisis.

When the virus first emerged in March 2020, England’s Chief Dental Officer called for all routine and non-emergency dental procedures to be scrapped.

Dentists have warned that the service is ‘collapsing’ during the pandemic, with millions of children losing appointments and thousands missing out on having their decayed teeth removed.

And residues in dental care make early detection of tooth decay difficult, experts warn.

David Fothergill, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Untreated dental disease remains one of the most common diseases affecting the ability of children and young people to talk, eat, play and socialise.

London recorded the lowest percentage of children seen by an NHS dentist in England: 40.6 per cent. The rate was highest in the North West, where almost half of the children (49.8 per cent) saw a dentist at least every 12 months.

Just 5.6 million children had a dental appointment in the year ending June 2022, down from 6.3 million in June 2020 – largely unaffected by the pandemic

“Oral health disparities are expected to increase due to large backlogs in primary care, reducing the likelihood of problems being identified early.

“The government must recommit to essential measures to tackle childhood obesity and diet-related diseases, such as the sugar levy, which has helped reduce the consumption of sugary drinks.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “Good oral health is incredibly important and the number of children seen by NHS dentists has increased by 43.6 per cent in the last year.

“We know that tooth decay is often associated with deprivation and we are taking steps to help cover the cost of living.

“All children under the age of 18 – or under 19 in full-time education – are exempt from dental expenses.

“The number of dentists has increased by more than 500 in the past year and the government is investing more than 3 billion.

A recent survey by the BBC and BDA found that nine out of 10 NHS dental practices are not taking on new adult patients and eight out of 10 are not taking on new children.

Half of dentists (50.3 per cent) have cut their NHS work, according to the BDA, which has warned more will follow as the sector continues to struggle.