February 23, 2026 - 204 views
There’s encouraging news for families across Wales – including here in North Wales – as new figures show the oral health of five-year-olds is continuing to improve.
Fresh findings from the NHS Wales Dental Epidemiology Programme reveal that fewer children in School Year One are experiencing tooth decay than in previous years.
The latest survey, carried out during the 2024–25 academic year, looked at the teeth of 8,526 children across Wales.
The inspections were coordinated by Public Health Wales in partnership with the Welsh Oral Health Information Unit at Cardiff University and carried out by Community Dental Service teams within each health board area — including Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which covers Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham, Gwynedd and Anglesey.
The results show just over 27 per cent of five-year-olds had experienced tooth decay. That’s a noticeable drop from 32.4 per cent in 2022–23 and continues a steady downward trend seen since 2007–08.
To put that into perspective: in an average class of 30 children today, around eight would have tooth decay. Back in 2007–08, that figure would have been closer to 14.
Health experts say the improvement represents a significant public health success story — and reflects years of preventative work in nurseries and schools, including North Wales communities.
While fewer children are affected overall, the report highlights that when tooth decay does occur, it often affects several teeth — an average of more than three per child.
The impact can be more than just clinical. Parents and carers reported that nearly one in four children with tooth decay had suffered dental pain in the previous year. Overall, almost 18 per cent of parents said their child’s oral health had negatively affected their quality of life. Among children with decay, that figure rose sharply to almost 39 per cent.
For families in North Wales — where access to NHS dentistry has been a hot political topic in recent years — the findings underline both the progress made and the continuing challenges.
The survey also found that children living in more deprived communities remain significantly more likely to experience tooth decay than those in the least deprived areas. That gap has not narrowed over time.
Parts of North Wales include areas of high deprivation, particularly in some coastal and former industrial communities, meaning targeted support remains crucial locally.
Prevention programmes such as Designed to Smile — which supports supervised toothbrushing, fluoride varnish applications and oral health education in schools — are credited with helping drive improvements. The scheme has been widely rolled out across Wales, including in primary schools throughout the North Wales region.
Paul Brocklehurst, Consultant in Dental Public Health at Public Health Wales, said it was “very encouraging” to see continued reductions in both the number of children affected and the severity of disease.
However, he warned that too many children — particularly those in deprived areas — are still experiencing preventable dental problems.
Health experts continue to stress the importance of simple daily habits: brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste appropriate for a child’s age, reducing sugar intake, and attending regular dental check-ups.
The full Year 1 Dental Epidemiological Inspection report for 2024–25 has been published by Cardiff University on behalf of the programme. The findings will be used to help shape future dental services and prevention work across Wales — including efforts to ensure every child in North Wales gets the healthiest possible start.
