The first national survey of the oral health of this age group found there was a dramatic variation of tooth decay prevalence ranging from 2% to 34% across the country, with 9.6% of children in the west country having visible tooth decay.

PHE encourages parents and carers to: reduce both the number and frequency of sugary foods and drinks given to children not add sugar to weaning foods or drinks aim to introduce drinking from a free-flow cup from six months of age and stop feeding from a bottle from 12 months start brushing children's teeth as soon as the first tooth appears and supervise their tooth brushing until they are seven or eight. Brush children's teeth twice daily, including just before bed, using a fluoride toothpaste, from the age of three, use only a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, for younger children a smear, use only sugar-free medicines.