30,000 rotten teeth removed from children in hospitals

Of these extractions, a significant 66 per cent – 31,165 episodes – were attributed to tooth decay.

There has been a 17 per cent increase in decay-related tooth extractions for 0 to 19-year-olds compared to the previous financial year (2021 to 2022). The increase has been attributed to the ongoing recovery of hospital services from post-Covid-19 backlogs.

Notably, children and young people residing in the most deprived communities faced a staggering 3.5 times higher decay-related tooth extraction rates than those in affluent areas. Which the Oral Health Foundation says, highlights deep-rooted oral health inequalities.

The charity also said it is concerning that tooth decay remains the leading cause of hospital admission for children aged five to nine years.