Shock sugar threat: One in five children in Britain having dental work by 5

The research looked at worrying brushing habits of British children

ONE in five children now have dental work by the time they are five, a shocking new study reveals as campaigners press for a controversial new 'sugar tax'.

 

Of these, more than a third (37 per cent) have had fillings as more and more young children get a whole range of treatments.

A quarter (26 per cent) have needed at least one crown, while a third (35 per cent) needed gum disease treatment.

The research, by Oasis Dental Care, looks at the worrying tooth brushing habits of 2 to 11 year olds across the UK .

 



One in four children regularly go an entire day without brushing their teeth



By the age of nine, nearly a third of children (29 per cent) have had gum disease or had crown or filling fitted.

If parents invest time in their children's dental care early on, they could avoid invasive dental procedures not only in childhood, but also in adult life

Dentist Eddie Coyle

A fifth of children aged two to five only have their teeth brushed once a day, while a quarter (26 per cent) regularly go without brushing at least one day a week.

Prime minister David Cameron today faced calls to reconsider his opposition to a tax on high-sugar products after it emerged he had not yet read research by Public Health England that was delayed by health secretary, Jeremy Hunt.

The Oasis research shows just 57 per cent of the 2,000 adults polled could confidently say their child never goes a day without cleaning their teeth.

However, the brushing habits of kids appear to get better they get older.

Just one in five children between eight and 11 (18 per cent) go one day a week without brushing their teeth. Dental health experts recommend we brush our teeth for two minutes, twice a day - something two thirds of parents (69 per cent) knew.

However, just seven per cent managed to get their kids to brush their teeth that long - with five year olds typically brushing for 67 seconds a day.



By the time they are three years old a third of children are having two or three sugary drinks a day

Dentist Eddie Coyle, Head of Clinical Services for Oasis Dental Care, said: "This research shows education is really important.

"Many people are simply unaware of how to take care of their children's dental hygiene. "In this campaign we are encouraging parents to 'take two' twice a day to ensure their children are brushing their teeth properly.

"If parents invest time in their children's dental care early on, they could avoid invasive dental procedures not only in childhood, but also in adult life."

Over a quarter (29 per cent) of mums and dad with five year olds find cleaning their children's teeth the most stressful part of the day.

In fact, one in ten (nine per cent) dread it so much they leave their children to get on with it themselves. Children can also make it worse for parents by putting up resistance, as they either runaway (nine per cent), have a tantrum (eight per cent), make excuses (19 per cent) or get upset (14 per cent).

And the way parents try to settle tantrums could actually impact on their child's dental health.

For instance, one in ten parents will even bribe five year olds with sweets. Meanwhile, one in five parents wrongly believed that children under the age of five shouldn't use fluoride toothpaste.

Three quarters of parents (74 per cent) with children experiencing dental problems admit they feel guilty for neglecting their teeth - but just 15 per cent altered their cleaning habits.

Mr Coyle added: "It's only natural to feel guilty when your child needs dental work.

"But it's not just about how you brush your teeth - diet plays a big part too, and reducing the intake of sugary snacks is really important." Only five per cent of children don't eat a sugary snack every day - meaning brushing regularly and properly is as important as ever.

It is important for parents to teach their children about dental care from a young age

In fact, three quarters of children (74 per cent) have at least one sugary drink a day and, by the age of three, a third of children are having at two or three sugary drinks daily. Mr Coyle said: "These findings paint a worrying picture as children as young as two are eating and drinking sugary snacks and drinks regularly every day.

"We would therefore urge parents to think about the levels of sugar content in foods and drink that they and their children consume as foods high in sugar and carbohydrates increase mouth bacteria which attack the teeth and cause decay.

"The teeth's natural defence, saliva, takes around an hour following consumption of these high sugar foods, to build up.

"That's why it's really important to reduce the frequency of sugar consumption as well as the volume."