Tooth Extractions Among Children Alarmingly High in the UK

National Health Service (NHS) said that the number of recorded tooth extractions carried out among younger children has been accelerating wildly.

Dental care and hygiene is declining among young children in the UK, where the NHS reports that there were about 33,781 tooth extractions in children below the age of 10 years old between 2014 and 2015.

NHS Chief Officer, Sara Hurley said that the rates of tooth extraction due to decay have gone up 3% per each year and between the year 2011-2012 the rates have increased to 10%.

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People should know the importance of simple measures such as reducing sugar consumption or visiting a dentist to drive up standards in oral health.

‘Tooth decay continues to rise at an alarming rate in the United Kingdom, with an whopping 33,781 tooth extractions performed among younger children between 2014 and 2015.’

Tooth decay is highly preventable if detected early. A routine dental visit can help diagnose tooth decay in the budding stages and treat it effectively.

Children are addicted to sugary drinks and its increased consumption has contributed to the surge in tooth extraction cases among the 10 year old’s.

Data published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) reveals that in four years, about 128,558 tooth extractions have been performed in children. It also stated that most of the pediatric hospital admissions is due to tooth decay. Also, 40% of children do not visit the dentists regularly.

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“In England, children and young people drink more sugary soft drinks than anywhere else in Europe and we are also creating a legacy of obesity and significant health problems. If we are to get serious about tackling this then prevention is the key," Hurley stated.

Source-Medindia

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