Promoting oral healthcare in the preschool child

Tooth decay in children is a substantial public health issue. Therefore, it is essential that all relevant members of the healthcare team are working together in the fight against this distressing and preventable disease. This article aims to discuss:

Tooth decay, also known as dental decay or dental caries, in children is a significant public health concern.^1,2 The Children's Dental Health Survey 2013, commissioned by the Health and Social Care Information Centre,³ highlighted the burden of disease in England:

Furthermore, in the 2012/13 school year, the inaugural Oral Health Survey of 3-year-olds was carried out in nurseries and playgroups. It involved a visual examination of more than 50,000 children in England, and revealed that, on average, 12% of surveyed 3-year-olds had experience of obvious dental decay.⁴