Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

POOR children are still far more likely to have rotten teeth than those in better-off areas.

On average, 68 per cent of Scots kids have no decay when they start primary school.

But in deprived areas, almost half already have bad teeth by that time.

In affluent areas, the number is fewer that one in five.

Public health dentist Professor Richard Watt, of University College London, said: “Children living in more deprived parts of Scotland still suffer the consequences of dental diseases much, much more than children living in more advantaged parts of Scotland.

“The challenge for clinical dentists, paediatric dentists and public health dentists is how we can make oral health better across all our communities and achieve that prevention in an effective way.

“Research shows oral diseases are a main cause of children’s absence from school, which can effect qualifications and then have adverse consequences in terms of their employment opportunities.”

Watt added: “A major concern is the existence and persistence of health inequalities.

“In Scotland, we could look at smoking, diabetes, average life expectancy – and across these are major problems that exist, particularly among deprived communities.

“In terms of oral health, we have the same challenge.”

Oral health has improved significantly in Scotland since 2000, when 55 per cent of kids started school with tooth decay.

Lorna Macpherson, professor of dental public health at the University of Glasgow Dental School, is co-director of Childsmile, an initiative aimed at improving oral health among kids.

She said: “Before we stared Childsmile, it was a time of reactive care, waiting for a disease to happen and then treating it. There had to be much more of a balance between that and prevention.”

The Childsmile programme encourages kids to brush their teeth and avoid sweets.

It also encourages families to tap into food cooperatives where there is cheaper, healthy food available.

Macpherson added: “In more socially dis-advantaged communities, we have put in place dental health support workers who live and work in the local community.

“We have seen some improvements in inequalities but not as much as we would like to see.”