The Children’s Dental Health Survey – the results
The Health and Social Care Information Centre has recently published the results of the Children’s Dental Health Survey, which has revealed both positives and negatives about the oral health of the nation’s children.
The positives include the fact that there have been reductions in the extent and the severity of tooth decay in the teeth of 12 and 15 year olds. However, ultimately more negatives were revealed in the survey than positives, including the revelation that many children are still greatly affected by tooth decay, and children from families with a lower income are more likely to suffer from tooth decay than children of the same age.
Statistics about the state of children’s teeth, as well as their oral care habits, were revealed by the survey. They included one fifth of 12 and 15 year olds reportedly having difficulty eating, more than one third of 12 year olds and more than a quarter of 15 year olds stating that they were too embarrassed to smile or laugh because of the condition their teeth were in, and 58% of 12 year olds and 45% of 15 year olds reporting that their everyday lives were affected by issues with their teeth and mouth.
However, there were some indicators that the nation’s children were taking steps to care for their teeth: over four fifths of teenagers noted that they went to the dentist regularly for check-ups, whilst more than three quarters of older children stated that they brushed their teeth either twice a day or more.
On the other hand, it was reported that children who are from poorer families are less likely to visit the dentist, less likely to brush their teeth twice a day regularly, and are more likely to consume drinks which are high in sugar. This suggests why children living in poorer areas are more likely to suffer from tooth decay than other children of their peer group.
