One-fifth of under-fives ‘have already received dental work’

One in five UK children have already had dental work by the time they reach the age of five, a new Oasis Dental Care study has revealed.

Examining the tooth brushing habits of 2,000 parents of two to 11-year-olds across the UK, the report indicated that 37 percent of under-fives have had fillings, 26 percent needed at least one crown and 35 percent needed gum disease treatment.

Moreover, it was indicated that by the age of nine, the survey found that nearly 29 percent have had at least one of these treatments.

The report also showed that one-fifth of children aged two to five only have their teeth brushed once a day, and 26 percent regularly go at least one day a week without having their teeth brushed.

Only 57 percent of the parents surveyed could confidently say that their child never goes a day without cleaning their teeth.

Eddie Coyle, head of clinical services for Oasis Dental Care, said: "If parents invest time in their children's dental care early on, they could avoid invasive dental procedures not only in childhood, but also in adult life."