A “ROTTEN teeth crisis” is affecting tens of thousands children in working-class communities across England, a new report revealed today.

The report says tooth decay is now the most common reason for hospital admissions among five to nine-year-olds and costs the NHS £64.3 million a year.

It welcomed a government promise to implement a manifesto pledge to introduce a supervised toothbrushing scheme for three to five-year-olds.

The joint report comes from the Child of the North project and the Centre for Young Lives, a think tank founded by former children’s commissioner for England, Anne Longfield.

It notes a report from the government’s Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) that there were 47,581 tooth extractions in NHS hospitals in England for under-19s last year.

Around 66 per cent of the extractions — 31,165 — were caused by tooth decay, up 17 per cent from the previous 12 months.

The report says tooth decay is more common among families living in deprived areas, particularly in the north of England.

Centre for Young Lives executive chairwoman Ms Longfield said: “It is staggering that so many children, particularly in the north of England and those living in low-income families, are now growing up with tooth decay and suffering from toothache and discomfort.

“In some areas it has sadly become the norm. Many children are not only missing out on NHS dental healthcare but are more likely to suffer tooth decay from a younger age.”

British Society of Paediatric Dentistry president Paula Waterhouse said: “It is time to establish an oral health strategy for children and young people across England. We need to act now.”

Ms Longfield described the government pledge to introduce supervised toothbrushing as a “positive step forward.” 

“We urge ministers to be radical, go much further, and ignore any accusations of a ‘nanny state’,” she said.

Mark Jones of the Toothless in England campaign for better dental healthcare said: “It is imperative that the current dental contract model be scrapped and replaced with one that is not just adequately funded, but designed to address the oral health needs of the people.”