Among younger children, 27 per cent of five-year-olds had tooth decay,³ and 12 per cent of three-year-olds had experienced caries. €On average, these children had 3.07 teeth that were decayed, missing or filled (at age three most children have all 20 primary teeth),€ according to Public Health England's 2013 survey.⁴

The number of children admitted to hospital due to tooth decay (suggesting treatment requiring a general anaesthetic) increased by 19.6% between 2010 and 2015.⁵ The Royal College of Surgeons noted that €approximately 46,500 children and young people under 19 were admitted to hospital for a primary diagnosis of dental caries in 2013€“14€. Five to nine-year-olds accounted for half of the admissions, an increase of 14 per cent between 2010€“11 and 2013€“14.⁶