MORE than 100,000 children have been admitted to hospital with tooth rot since 2018, NHS figures suggest.
Decay is the top reason for hospital admission in under-18s and half of youngsters have not seen a dentist for over a year.
AlamyMillions of children are overdue for a dental checkup[/caption]
Analysis by the Liberal Democrats found there were 104,133 kids and teens admitted between 2018 and 2023 at 63 NHS hospital trusts.
Experts said the true toll is likely more than 150,000 because the figures only cover half of hospitals.
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “Ending this intolerable situation must be one of the government’s top priorities.
“It is clear that children are being left to suffer pain that disrupts their sleep, eating and education.”
Adults usually have teeth pulled at the dentist but kids more often go to hospital because they need general anaesthetic, have an infection or need multiple teeth out.
Children are meant to have a check-up at least once a year but 47 per cent are overdue – equal to around 5.7million.
MPs across all parties are furious about the state of NHS dentistry as experts keep warning it is on its last legs.
Labour MP Ashley Dalton jibed last week: “It’s easier to get your hands on Taylor Swift tickets than it is to get an NHS dental appointment.”
Dentists want better fees for NHS work and all parties now want toothbrushing in schools to improve kids’ oral health.
Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association, said: “These children are paying the price for the government’s indifference to dentistry.
“Tooth decay is a wholly preventable disease but remains the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children.”