Poverty and poor dental health link in Glasgow continues

Greater Glasgow and Clyde recorded the highest levels of decay in Scotland amongst primary seven pupils.

Just over 73% had no signs of rot compared to a national average of 77% and 90.4% in Orkney.

Only 65.6% of P7 children in the most deprived areas of Scotland had no obvious decay experience compared with 86.5% in the least deprived areas.

Glasgow has 56 of the 100 poorest areas in Scotland according to the latest deprivation index.

The National Dental Inspection Programme statistics showed that 77% of Scots youngsters had no obvious decay, a steady improvement from 53% in 2005.

The figures, published by Information Services Division Scotland – the statistical division of the NHS – showed the average number of P7 children’s teeth affected by obvious decay experience in 2017 was 0.49.

This is less than half of the average number of teeth affected in 2005 when it was 1.29.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “These welcome statistics show a further improvement in the oral health of children. 

“More than three quarters (77%) of Primary 7 children now have no tooth decay, that’s up from 59% a decade ago.

“This demonstrates that our programmes such as Childsmile are making a significant difference, which is why we have expanded Childsmile across Scotland and continue to work to deliver further improvements.”

The Detailed Inspection was carried out between November 2016 and June 2017 and involved 14,596 children across Scotland, 26.6% of the estimated P7 population.

The average age of the children examined – both girls and boys - was 11.5 years.

Figures released last year, showed that the number of extractions in Glasgow has halved since the millennium.

In 2000/01 when records were first kept the number of teeth pulled out of children’s mouths in the Greater Glasgow health board area was 26,355.

By 2015/16, the latest full year’s figures, the total had dropped to 12,516 a reduction of more than 50%.