Children’s rotting teeth cost hospitals £35m a year

Study says excessive consumption of fizzy drinks and foods high in added sugar are main reasons why more children are having teeth removed

More than 100 operations to remove children's decayed teeth take place every day in England's hospitals (UniversalImagesGroup/Getty)

The cost of operations to remove multiple decayed teeth from children has soared by more than 60 per cent since 2010/11 to more than £35m a year, councils have warned.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said it was concerned that children are being forced to miss school to have hospital operations on their teeth.

Its found there were more than 100 operations a day to remove multiple decayed teeth in young children and teenagers in England‘s hospitals.

The researchers blamed excessive consumption of fizzy drinks and sugary foods as a major reason why more children are having teeth removed.

Figures show £35.3m was spent on multiple teeth extractions among under-18s in 2014/15, compared with £21.9m in 2010/11. Since then almost £140m has been spent.

There were 40,970 procedures among under-18s in 2014/15, compared with 32,457 in 2010/11, the LGA's analysis showed.

Izzi Seccombe, community well-being spokeswoman for the LGA, which represents more than 370 councils responsible for public health, said: "Our children's teeth are rotting because they are consuming too much food and drink high in sugar far too often.

"Nearly half of 11 to 15-year-olds have a sugary drink at least once a day. As these figures show, we don't just have a child obesity crisis, but a children's oral health crisis too.

"What makes these numbers doubly alarming is the fact so many teeth extractions are taking place in hospitals rather than dentists.

"This means the level of tooth decay is so severe that removal is the only option. It goes to show that a good oral hygiene routine is essential, as well as how regular dentist trips can ensure tooth decay is tackled at an early stage.

"Poor oral health can affect children and young people's ability to sleep, eat, speak, play and socialise with others. Having good oral health can help children learn at school, and improve their ability to thrive and develop, not least because it will prevent school absence."

Data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) shows a steady climb in the numbers of children aged 10 and under needing the removal of one or more teeth, reaching 128,558 extractions since 2011, of which 14,000 cases involved children aged under five.

Press Association