Reduction in number of cavities in children, survey finds

Nearly half of eight-year-olds and a third of five-year-olds have signs of decay in their milk teeth, a national dental health survey has found.

The 2013 Children's Dental Health Survey for England, Wales and Northern Ireland also found that 46% of 15-year-olds had decay in their teeth.

But there were signs of improvement compared with 10 years ago, with an overall reduction in the number of cavities in children's teeth.

About 14,000 children were surveyed for the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Dominic Hughes reports.