THREE in ten kids have rotting teeth by the time they start school, official figures show.
A report found 29.3 per cent of five-year-olds have some degree of tooth decay.
Official figures show more than half of children have tooth decay in the worst affected areas
In the worst hit areas the figure is more than half.
Health chiefs warn fizzy drinks and junk food are wrecking tots’ enamel.
It comes as family struggles to see a dentist are soaring as cash-strapped clinics shun NHS work.
Only 46 per cent of kids had a check-up last year.
The Department of Health said: “Dental decay is related to the frequent exposure of teeth to sugary snacks and drinks.
“It affects children’s ability to eat, smile and socialise and causes pain and infection with days missed at school and parents’ work.”
The 2022 oral health survey revealed the state of English children’s teeth for the first time since 2019.
It used check-ups from 62,649 children and found their gnashers are in worse condition than before.
The report said: “There had been a decrease in decay in 5 year olds from 2008 to 2017.
“However there has been no continuation of this improvement in 2019 or in the results of this latest survey.”
Statistics show children in the North West of England were worst off, with 38.7 per cent suffering decay.
More than half have tooth rot in the worst affected areas of Cambridgeshire (56.7 per cent), Peterborough (56.4 per cent) and Blackburn (54.9 per cent).
Those in the poorest parts of England are three times as likely to have dental problems as in the richest.
Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association, said: “Our youngest patients require deeds not words, whether it’s providing access to basic care, rolling out programmes in schools or fluoridating water.”
The 10 areas with the highest rates of tooth decay by age 5 are:
Cambridgeshire (57%)Peterborough (56%)Blackburn with Darwen (55%)Bolton (53%)Brent, London (50%)Liverpool (49%)Blackpool (48%)Camden, London (47%)Leicester (47%)Salford, Gtr Manchester (44%)
NHS guidance says parents should brush their children’s teeth as soon as they come through.
They should be brushed twice a day and families should visit the dentist for regular check-ups.
Kids should also not be given too much sugar, which means avoiding sweets, lollipops, fizzy drinks and fruit juice.