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| Only a third of children's teeth 'healthy' - survey | Only a third of children's teeth 'healthy' - survey |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Only a third of children in Wales have healthy teeth overall and this is lagging behind England, a major survey suggests. | Only a third of children in Wales have healthy teeth overall and this is lagging behind England, a major survey suggests. |
| Thousands of children have been examined every 10 years since 1973. | Thousands of children have been examined every 10 years since 1973. |
| A third of children in Wales were said to have good oral health overall, which compares to 39% in England. | A third of children in Wales were said to have good oral health overall, which compares to 39% in England. |
| Decay was found in 52% of 12 year olds and 63% of 15 year olds, a slight improvement on the 2003 survey. | Decay was found in 52% of 12 year olds and 63% of 15 year olds, a slight improvement on the 2003 survey. |
| But around 70% of them reported problems with their teeth. | But around 70% of them reported problems with their teeth. |
| Decay was found in 41% of five-year-old children in their primary teeth and in 55% of eight-year-old pupils, according to the Health and Social Care Information Centre report. | Decay was found in 41% of five-year-old children in their primary teeth and in 55% of eight-year-old pupils, according to the Health and Social Care Information Centre report. |
| Severe dental problems were worse among children from poorer backgrounds. | Severe dental problems were worse among children from poorer backgrounds. |
| Around a half (47%) of five year olds could be said to have good oral health. | Around a half (47%) of five year olds could be said to have good oral health. |
| But that declined with age, to around a quarter of 15 year old children. | But that declined with age, to around a quarter of 15 year old children. |
| Other findings: | Other findings: |
| The last results in 2003 showed that oral health had improved greatly since the 1970s and 1980s. | The last results in 2003 showed that oral health had improved greatly since the 1970s and 1980s. |
| This time, 12 and 15-year-olds were also asked to fill in a questionnaire on how they looked after their teeth. | This time, 12 and 15-year-olds were also asked to fill in a questionnaire on how they looked after their teeth. |
| In 2009 the Welsh government launched a national scheme to encourage better dental health amongst young children. Since then it has invested over £12m in the programme. | In 2009 the Welsh government launched a national scheme to encourage better dental health amongst young children. Since then it has invested over £12m in the programme. |
| It also suggested the programme had led to a recent 6% drop in the proportion of five-year-olds experiencing dental decay. | It also suggested the programme had led to a recent 6% drop in the proportion of five-year-olds experiencing dental decay. |
| Experts point out there could be several reason the health of children's teeth in Wales was still lagging behind those from other UK nations including socio-economic conditions. | Experts point out there could be several reason the health of children's teeth in Wales was still lagging behind those from other UK nations including socio-economic conditions. |
| That survey 10 years ago also showed a big drop in 15-year-olds with obvious decay from 94% in 1983 to 58%. | That survey 10 years ago also showed a big drop in 15-year-olds with obvious decay from 94% in 1983 to 58%. |
| Scottish children are not included in the 2013 survey but Wales has better results than Northern Ireland, where 31% were judged to be in good oral health. | Scottish children are not included in the 2013 survey but Wales has better results than Northern Ireland, where 31% were judged to be in good oral health. |
| The Welsh Government said its own most recent monitoring survey showed a 6% drop in the proportion of five-year-olds with dental decay. | |
| "However, there is more to do to improve the dental health of children in Wales especially since the vast majority of tooth decay is avoidable," said a spokesperson. | |
| "Parents can help their children by reducing sugar intake and encouraging them to brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. " | |
| It has also published its own survey of dental health to identify how much decay among five-years-olds is already present at the age of three. |