Parents : Supervise child's teeth-brushing until age of eight

Parents should supervise children brushing their teeth until at least the age of eight, according to dental experts at the Royal Society of Surgeons, from the report there may be several reasons for this rise in dental problems among the young  these include children not visiting a dentist until it is too late and more youngsters not brushing their teeth properly.

Professor Nigel Hunt, dean of the Royal College of Surgeons' dental faculty, said: 'It is absolutely intolerable that in this day and age, in a civilised country, children are having so many teeth out for decay, which is over 90 per cent preventable. 

The report also suggested adding fluoride to the water supply as areas with water fluoridation schemes had less tooth decay than those without.

The report said up to 45 per cent fewer children aged one to four were admitted to hospital with tooth decay in fluoridated areas.

It suggested adopting schemes run successfully in Scotland and Wales, where children are shown how to brush their teeth in school.
A national dental health survey published in May found almost half of eight-year-olds have signs of decay in their milk teeth.

A Department of Health spokesman said overall dental health in children had improved in the past ten years.