A third of parents believe it’s acceptable for children to have experienced tooth decay before they become a teenager.
These results come from a survey conducted by Denplan, which found that 30% of parents believe decay in children is acceptable while 26% said they have found it difficult to regulate children’s sugar consumption.
Of the parents surveyed, 29% believed painful oral health conditions, such as tooth decay, are down to your family history and just 18% said they take their child to see the dentist once a year as soon as their first tooth appears.
‘As the poor state of children’s oral health continues to dominate the headlines, and dental caries continues to be one of the most common chronic (but also largely preventable) diseases in UK children, Denplan will continue to champion improvements in children’s oral health,’ Henry Clover, chief dental officer at Denplan, said.
‘Whilst parents have the best of intentions with their children’s dental health, our research shows it can be hard for parents to keep up good habits amongst a backdrop of hidden sugars in our food and drinks and children’s reluctance to follow a good oral health routine.’
Big Summer Brush-Up
The ‘Big Summer Brush-Up’ has been launched for the second year, encouraging families to practise brushing techniques with children.
Run by Denplan, the national campaign will run throughout July and August and it’s hoping, with the help of dental practices, to raise awareness of oral health in children along with improving their brushing technique, this year Katie Piper is the campaign’s celebrity Mum ambassador.
‘Denplan’s Big Summer Brush-Up campaign, along with the accompanying materials Denplan has produced, has been created to help practices support and guide families on their oral healthcare,’ Henry Clover continued.
‘Providing the right advice and encouragement from an early age or even from when a child’s first tooth appears, could make a lifetime of difference when it comes to their oral health.’
