Third of young Salford children suffering with rotting teeth as dentists call for urgent action

A third of Salford children under five are suffering from tooth decay as dentists call for urgent action to stem the ongoing ‘crisis’. 

According to Salford Council’s annual public health report,  33.6% of under fives surveyed in the borough in 2022 had some evidence of tooth decay, with children having an average of two teeth with decay.

Oral health issues can lead to time off school and serious discomfort, but new patients are struggling to find an NHS dentist.

Salford is the fifth worst area in Greater Manchester for under fives experiencing tooth decay.

The average rate of decay in the North West of England in 2022 was 30.6%. Salford’s rate of tooth decay among children is just above that rate.

Between April 2022 and May 2023, 30,000 children were admitted to A&E with severe tooth decay, as well as more than 70,000 adults.

The latest figures although still bad have improved slightly since   2019 when 39% of the children who took part were suffering from tooth decay.

New data shows that 93.4% of new patients in the North West  are unable to access NHS care.

The British Dental Association has stressed that the new government must move at pace to rescue the struggling service.

The BDA chair Eddie Crouch said: “For new patients in the North West NHS dentistry has effectively ceased to exist.

“This crisis is piling pressure across our health service, forcing some to go private, while others in agony simply forgo needed care.

“We will keep seeing desperate scenes outside dental practices the length and breadth of this country until we see real reform.”

Groups in Salford are trying their best to help tooth decay issues of children in the community. The oral health team in Salford has planned to set up a new toothbrush delivery programme.

Children in this programme will have to brush their teeth while being supervised by their school for one of their two brushes a day.

Anyone in need of urgent health care in Salford can call: 0333 332 3800. This line is open from 8am to 10pm, including weekends and bank holidays.