A new analysis of NHS data by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) shows that the number of children under four in England who have had teeth removed has risen by 24 per cent over the last ten years, up from 7,444 extractions in 2006/07 to 9,206 in 2015/16.
Professor Nigel Hunt, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the RCS, described the figures as ‘absolutely shocking’.
‘When you see the numbers tallied up like this it becomes abundantly clear that the sweet habits of our children are having a devastating effect on the state of their teeth. That children as young as one or two need to have teeth extracted is shocking. It’s almost certain that the majority of these extractions will be down to tooth decay caused by too much sugar in diets,’ Professor Hunt said.
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