Department of Health written question – answered on 4th December 2017.

Lord O'Shaughnessy The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health

National dental surveys show that inequalities in children’s oral health are associated with deprivation, geography and ethnicity. Inequalities in child oral health have been reported in surveys carried out as part of the dental epidemiology programme in England, and within the decennial Children’s Dental Health Survey. A copy of the executive summary is attached.

For example, children in the north of England have higher levels of tooth decay than those in the south, and those from Chinese and Eastern Europeanbackgrounds have higher levels of tooth decay than other ethnic backgrounds.

National surveys of adult oral health also report inequalities according to social class and geography. A copy of the Executive Summary: Adult Dental Health Survey 2009 is attached.

Oral health inequalities are influenced by socio-economic factors such as differences in levels of income and employment experienced by different groups; and by behaviours such as having a poor diet high in sugar and low access to fluoride.

Adult Dental Health Survey 2009 (PDF Document, 175.82 KB)

Children's Dental Health Survey (PDF Document, 307.33 KB)