Removal of 0-4 year olds' teeth on the rise, RCS warns

The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has raised concern over the rise in the number of tooth extractions performed on 0-4 year olds in hospitals in England over the last decade.

According to NHS Digital figures, collated via a RCS Freedom of Information request, there were 84,086 procedures carried out on 0-4 year olds between 2006/07 and 2015/16. This is a steep increase when compared to a 16 per cent increase in the population of 0-4 year olds over the same period.

Dentists have called on parents and the government to take stronger action against the scourge of sugar on children’s teeth. 

Professor Nigel Hunt, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS), said: “When you see the numbers tallied up like this it becomes abundantly clear that the sweet habits of our children are having a devastating effect on the state of their teeth. That children as young as one or two need to have teeth extracted is shocking.  It’s almost certain that the majority of these extractions will be down to tooth decay caused by too much sugar in diets.

“Removal of teeth, especially in hospital under general anaesthetic, is not to be taken lightly. There tends to be an attitude of “oh, they are only baby teeth” but in actual fact how teeth are looked after in childhood impacts oral health in adulthood. Baby teeth set the pattern for adult teeth, including tooth decay.”

Hunt added: “What is really distressing about these figures is that 90 per cent of tooth decay is preventable through reducing sugar consumption, regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste and routine dental visits. Despite NHS dental treatment being free for under-18s, 42 per cent of children did not see a dentist in 2015/16.

“We’d like to see a significant proportion of the money raised through the Government’s sugar levy spent on oral health education. Sugar has an almost immediate damaging impact on teeth and if we teach parents and children to cut down on sweet treats and look after their teeth properly, there will be a positive knock-on effect for childhood obesity rates too.”  

A spokesman from the Department of Health said: "These are worrying statistics - which is why we are taking action.

"We are introducing a soft drinks levy, as well as a broader sugar reduction programme, to encourage food and drink companies to reduce the amount of sugar that is in popular products in the first place."