Shocking statistics have shown that more than one million British children under five have at least two fillings; in a study based on children between the ages of two and twelve, 17% of parents admitted that their child has at least three filling, 13% said they have at least one filling, and a staggering 47% of children under twelve have some level of dental decay.
The study also showed that 2% of the parents asked said that their children never bothered to brush their teeth, and 12% are aware of the fact that their youngsters lie about brushing their teeth regularly. The research was carried out by toothpaste giant Aquafresh and it also revealed that 6% of children have never been to see the dentist. Leading dentist Dr Tina Tanna said ‘the results are shocking but not wholly surprising – dental decay is one of the most preventable diseases in the UK. Dental decay can lead to complications such as tooth loss so it’s vital kids learn to brush properly to prevent later issues with their adult teeth.’
A further 5% of mothers admitted that they were embarrassed to take their child to the dentist after a long period of time because they feel they will be judged. Brand manager of Aquafresh, Katharine Osmond, understands the pressure parents feel in this type of situation and commented that ‘we all need help and support from time to time, and hopefully our fun and inventive tips will come in handy.’