The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons, which compiled the data, blames tooth decay linked to sugary diets.

Hospitals in Glasgow, and indeed around the UK, are seeing thousands of very young children each year needing baby teeth removed. The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons, which compiled the data, blames tooth decay linked to sugary diets. Figures show there were 9,206 extractions carried out on children aged four and younger between April 2015 and March 2016.

That is a rise of about 24% in the space of a decade – more than you would expect from population growth alone, says the faculty.

“When you see the numbers tallied up like this, it becomes abundantly clear that the sweet habits of our children are having a devastating effect on the state of their teeth” says lead researcher Professor Nigel Hunt.

“What is really distressing about these figures is that 90% of tooth decay is preventable through reducing sugar consumption, regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste and routine dental visits”

At Tiwari Watson Dental Care in Glasgow we are passionate about helping to ensure our younger patients (and of course their parents!) get into good oral healthcare habits when it comes to looking after baby teeth.

The key is to understand that tooth decay is totally preventable – largely by limiting sugary food and drink and making sure children visit the dentist regularly, as well as brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

• Limit sugary snacks (including fruit and dried fruit) and sugary drinks
• Brush as soon as your baby gets their first tooth
• Do it twice a day – morning and night – for about two minutes
• Use only a smear of toothpaste if your child is younger than three. Use a pea-sized blob thereafter
• Make sure the toothpaste is lower-strength, containing 1,000ppm fluoride
• Monitor your children brushing their teeth until they are least  years old (to ensure they are brushing properly)

As your local dental practice in Glasgow, we are here to help you to enjoy a happy, heathly smile for life. For more information about the part that healthy diet plays in maintaining a healthy smile, please visit the Oral Health Foundation website >>

If you are worried about any aspect of your child’s smile, and would like to discuss this with a member of our team, please book an appointment at Tiwari Watson Dental Care in Glasgow by calling us on 0141 557 3488 or request an appointment with us via our Online Appointment Request Form >>

Bit obvious that it is sugar. Still have to be thankful they haven't called for fluoridation.