Overview
- The Child of the North update reports no real improvement in nearly a decade, with more than one in four five-year-olds still affected by decay.
- Children in the most deprived areas are more than twice as likely to have decay and over three times as likely to be admitted for extractions than peers in affluent areas.
- NHS England data show 21,162 hospital admissions for tooth decay among 5–9-year-olds in 2024/25, making it the leading cause of admissions in that age group.
- The national supervised toothbrushing programme has reached about 240,000 children since March toward a goal of up to 600,000, with researchers stressing rigorous evaluation and school engagement.
- Government actions include planned fluoridation expansion in the North East, a ban on sales of high‑caffeine energy drinks to children, pre‑9pm junk‑food advertising restrictions and a soft drinks levy consultation, while access to NHS dentists remains poor despite promised contract reforms and 700,000 extra urgent appointments.