Oral health care in children

A child's oral health is recognised as being a contributing factor to their healthy development. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines oral health as being free from chronic mouth and facial pain, cancers, infection and other conditions that may inhibit a person's ability to chew, bite, smile or speak (WHO, 2018). Oral health problems include gum disease, tooth decay (Figure 1), tooth loss and other oral mucosal diseases.

Tooth decay is the most common oral disease affecting children and young people in England and is considered to be mostly preventable (Public Health England (PHE), 2016a). It is considered to be a public health priority linked to childhood obesity and is also connected to factors such as health inequality.

Poor oral health in children impacts on both the child and their family. Tooth decay, otherwise known as dental caries, is the most common reason for 5–9 year olds in England to be admitted to hospital (Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), 2015). These admissions are often for the removal of teeth under general anaesthesia. For example, in 2015, more than 602 000 children and young people aged 0–19 years were admitted to hospital to have teeth removed under general anaesthesia (HSCIC, 2015).