Parents could be encouraged to ensure their offspring undergo children's dentistry after recent figures reveal the numbers are slowly declining.

The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has urged guardians to ensure their sons and daughters are receiving appropriate dental care to prevent the development of problems.

Recent statistics from the NHS Information Centre revealed that 7.8 million children were seen by a dentist in the two-year period ending in June 2011, which represented a 26,000 reduction from 2006.

In regards to the data, Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the BDHF, expressed concern over the lack of growth in the number of children visiting a dentist despite encouraging overall results.

"Children should be attending the dentist as soon as possible in order for them to develop good oral health habits which they can carry through to adulthood," he remarked.

Earlier this month, the BDHF revealed that pupils from schools in Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland are set to enjoy a series of dental health roadshows as a result of investment from the Wrigley Tooth Fairy Fund.