‘Appalling childhood tooth extraction statistics illustrate need for urgent action in England’, charity declares

This call to action follows the release today of statistics from Public Health England (PHE) which show that a child in England has a rotten tooth removed in hospital every ten minutes, which is around 141 children a day.

Speaking about these shocking numbers, Nigel Carter, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation, said, “These figures, which demonstrate a continued growth in childhood tooth extractions, are far beyond what anybody should deem acceptable.

“The pain and distress caused to the children undergoing these operations, some of whom have barely reached their first birthday, is absolutely heart-breaking and must be addressed urgently.

“Tooth decay is the number one reason for childhood hospital admissions for general anaesthesia in the UK and children consuming too much sugar and consuming it too often is the major cause of this. It is also the major factor contributing to childhood obesity and diabetes.

“We do not feel the ’sugar tax’, which comes into effect today, does enough to address the current oral health crisis we’re experiencing in England. It fails to address the issue of excessive sugar in fruit juices, milk-based drinks and multi-packs and also does not generate any funds to improve oral health education in the UK.