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Don't skip teeth brushing: millions of children's tooth health impacted by dental care crisis

Don't skip teeth brushing: millions of children's tooth health impacted by dental care crisis

New figures show millions of children have not seen an NHS dentist, sparking fresh concern about the impact on young mouths.

A child stands by a bathroom sink, looking in the mirror and brushing her teeth.

MadeForMums

Published: January 20, 2026 at 2:52 PM

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New analysis shared by the Liberal Democrats suggests NHS dentistry is under severe strain, with millions of children across England missing out on routine dental care. For parents already juggling packed schedules and rising costs, the figures raise fresh worries about what this means for children’s health now and in the years ahead.

According to the party, more than four in ten children — over five million — had not seen a dentist in the year up to June 2025. Among adults, the picture is also bleak, with around 28 million people going without dental care for two years or more.

This is goes hand in hand with poor dental health in children. The Child of the North report, produced by N8 Research Partnership and Health Equity North, found that only 39% of children in England have good oral health, while three in 1o five-year-olds in England have tooth decay and 27,000 children were on NHS waiting lists for specialist dental care in 2023.

With children consuming too much sugar, not brushing enough, or being exposed to enough fluoride, experts warn that the current system is struggling to cope with the demands of poor dental health in children.

Why seeing a dentist early really matters

Professor Peter Day, professor of children’s oral health and consultant in paediatric dentistry at the University of Leeds and Bradford Community Dental Service, and co-author of the Child of the North report, says regular dental visits from infancy play a crucial role in setting children up for healthy mouths.

He explains that early appointments help with “developing optimal oral health habits” such as brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and limiting sugary foods and drinks, adding that “regular visits allow parents to discuss with the dental team about these behaviours in detail."

Early check ups also mean dental decay can be spotted sooner. Professor Day notes that if problems are identified early, there is “a wider range of treatment options available, including some that do not involve injections and drilling,” helping to prevent pain, disrupted sleep, eating difficulties and tooth extractions.

Early treatment will prevent progression of disease and avoid complications of severe decay such as pain, disrupted sleep, impaired eating and extractions of teeth.

Professor Peter Day

He also highlights the emotional side of dental care for children, explaining that positive, simple visits can help with “familiarisation with visiting the dentist, thus allaying dental worries and anxiety of the unknown.”

What is behind the current dental health challenges?

Asked why children’s dental health is in such a difficult place right now, Professor Day stresses that there is no single cause. He points to findings outlined in the Child of the North report, which show the issues are “complex and widespread.”

These issues include:

Deprivation - the Child of the North report found that the likelihood of tooth decay is 2.5 times higher in the most deprived areas of England, and children living in these communities have a nearly 3.5 times greater chance of tooth extractions than those living in the least deprived areas.
Access to dental care - the Lib Dem report found that in three-quarters of areas, at least 40% of children haven't seen a dentist in two years. But this number varies from area to area; in Nottinghamshire, 35% of children haven't seen a dentist in two years, while in Somerset the figure is 56%. This is impacted by a lack of NHS dentists and long waiting lists for care.
Diet - many children eat a sugar-rich diet and drink sugary drinks.
Inadequate brushing - many children don't brush twice a day, or don't brush for long enough.
Not enough exposure to fluoride - 10% of the population are supplied with fluoridated water, and rates of tooth decay have dropped as people have increasingly used fluoridated toothpaste, but the Child of the north report suggests that this could be increased.

This means that while access to dentists is vital, it is only one part of a much bigger picture affecting families across the UK.

Would proposed reforms make a difference?

The Liberal Democrats say their £750m dental rescue plan would help address what they describe as “dental deserts”, areas with no NHS dentists taking on new patients. Proposals include reforming dental contracts to encourage dentists back into the NHS, alongside an emergency scheme guaranteeing free check ups for children, pregnant women, new mums and those on low incomes.

Professor Day welcomes investment but sounds a note of caution. “I welcome any additional funding to NHS dentistry,” he says, while emphasising that “improving children’s oral health is more complex than dental access alone.”

He also points out that recent government plans have acknowledged this, noting that improving children’s oral health is mentioned in the NHS ten year plan, which he describes as “a welcome step forward.”

Top tips for parents to help keep children's teeth as healthy as possible

While national debates continue, Professor Day says there are practical steps parents can focus on day to day. He highlights three key behaviours:

brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
limiting sugary foods and drinks
attending dental appointments regularly

He is clear that these are not always easy. “These headline behaviours are more complex and support needs to be tailored to individual families and their circumstances,” he says.

His advice to parents includes being kind to yourself, remembering that “a little is better than nothing" — even just "a quick brush or wiping a small amount of toothpaste on the teeth is better than no brushing at all."

He recommends keeping routines as consistent as possible, especially at weekends and during school holidays. If things slip, he says just "reset and start again the next day."

The Supervised Toothbrushing Toolkit is a great resource for helping to reduce tooth decay in children. And Professor Day also highlights extra resources for families who need additional support, including tailored guidance for children with autism and special educational needs, and for children aged 0-2.

For busy mums navigating long waiting lists and everyday life, the message from experts is clear: early and regular dental care matters, and even small steps at home can make a meaningful difference.

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