4,000 teeth extracted from children in Plymouth

In Plymouth, data shared by the broadcaster shows that 600 children had a combined 4,000 teeth extracted. At one local primary school, teachers discovered that 50 per cent of their pupils had never seen a dentist. This is resulting in children having to completely change their diets, moving off solid foods and relying solely on liquids such as soups and smoothies.

The BDA says Plymouth is far from an outlier, with access problems now gripping every corner of the country.

Tooth decay remains the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children. Rates for extractions among children and young people living in England’s most deprived communities are nearly 3.5 times that of those living in the most affluent.