article_snippet: Almost half of all eight year olds and a third of children aged five have fillings or teeth missing because of tooth decay.
article_snippet: Furthermore in 2013, 46 per cent of 15 year olds and 34 per cent of 12 year olds had 'obvious decay' in their permanent teeth.
article_snippet: The Child Dental Health Survey has revealed almost half of all eight year olds and a third of children aged five have fillings or teeth missing because of tooth decay .
article_snippet: The survey of more than 13,500 children and nearly 10,000 dental examinations found dental decay was most pronounced in lower income families - where children are eligible for free school meals.
article_snippet: Around 40 per cent of five year olds from more deprived families had tooth decay, compared with 29 per cent from less deprived families.
article_snippet: In addition, 59 per cent of 15 year olds from deprived families had tooth decay, compared with 43 per cent from better off families.
article_snippet: Meanwhile Northern Ireland is uncovered as the childhood tooth decay capital of the UK, with 72 per cent of 15 year olds suffering oral disease.
article_snippet: The Child Dental Health Survey reveals a promising trend, experts said, with the extend and severity of tooth decay in permanent teeth of children aged 12 and 15 falling.
article_snippet: The Child Dental Health Surveyexamined the prevalence, severity and extent of dental caries, also known as tooth decay.
article_snippet: Tooth decay was still found in 34 per cent of 12-year-olds (compared to 43 per cent in 2003) and 46 per cent of 15-year-olds (56 per cent in 2003).
article_snippet: Just 38 per cent of children were classed as having good overall oral health, meaning children had no obvious decay,
article_snippet: There have been significant reductions in the numbers of 12 and 15-year-olds with obvious decay in their adult teeth. '
article_snippet: The survey is the fifth in a series of national children's dental health surveys that have been carried out every ten years since 1973, focusing on the dental health of five, eight, 12 and 15 year olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
article_snippet: Dr Sandra White, director of dental public health at Public Health England (PHE), said: 'PHE welcomes the overall fall in tooth decay levels and the fact that more and more children are brushing more and more children teeth twice a day and regularly visiting the dentist.
article_snippet: The survey found in 2013, 46 per cent of 15 year olds and 34 per cent of 12 year olds had 'obvious decay' in their permanent teeth .
article_snippet: However, children from low-income families are twice as likely to have tooth decay, which is not only painful but can require hospital treatment and also affects children from low-income families confidence and self-esteem, so there is no room for complacency. '
article_snippet: Tooth decay is a serious, preventable disease and The survey echoes the need to urgently reduce the amount of sugary snacks and drinks in our children's diets.'
article_snippet: Anna Bradley, chair of Healthwatch England, said: 'Tooth decay is preventable as long as parents have the right information about and access to NHS dentists. '
article_snippet: It seems that, as a result, children with tooth decay are increasingly needing emergency dental treatments in hospital. '
highlights_snippet: Child Dental Health Survey shows 46% of 15 year olds and 34% of 12 year olds had 'obvious decay' in their permanent teeth .
  