A national health survey has discovered that nearly half of eight year olds and one third of five year olds have signs of tooth decay already. Could this be due to the amounts of unhealthy foods children are eating nowadays? The survey found that rates of tooth decay were much higher among children in more deprived families, where more than 40% of five-year-olds have some decay, in 15-year-olds, that figure rises to nearly 60%.
Tooth decay is a problem which occurs when the acids in your mouth dissolve the outer layers of your teeth. Tooth decay can be prevented by eating healthier and by brushing your teeth twice a day. Tooth decay can eventually lead to losing teeth. There were reductions in tooth decay present in the permanent teeth of 12 and 15-year-olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland between 2003 and 2013.
Another study showed that one in five 12 and 15-year-olds said they had experienced difficulty eating in the past three months while one in three 12-year-olds said they were embarrassed to smile or laugh because of the condition of their teeth and parents said they had taken time off work because of their child’s oral health in the last six months.
So what can we do to stop tooth decay? Northfield Academy has issued a water policy around the school. Pupils will not be allowed to take any fizzy juice or energy drinks into school because it is unhealthy. The water policy only allows water to be brought into school, making the school more water friendly.
