The data, published by NHS England, shows 21,787 children aged 5 to 9 were admitted to hospital with tooth decay in 2025/2026, compared to 11,511 children admitted for acute tonsillitis.

Professor Martyn Cobourne, dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: ‘This is an entirely avoidable public health failure. Tooth decay is preventable, yet thousands of children are still ending up in hospital every year for treatment that could have been avoided through good oral health habits and access to an NHS dentist. No child should have to suffer pain, miss school or undergo a hospital procedure because they cannot get the care they need. 

‘Hospitals should not be the first place that a child encounters dental care. The Government has committed to fundamental reform of the NHS dental contract. If the Government is serious about fixing NHS dentistry, it needs to deliver a system that places greater emphasis on prevention, improves access for patients, and makes NHS dentistry a more attractive and sustainable place to work.'

The FDS is calling on the Government to deliver fundamental reform of the NHS dental contract, with a stronger focus on prevention, improving access to NHS dentistry, and supporting the recruitment and retention of the dental workforce. 

 Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor, chair of the LGA Health and Wellbeing Committee, said: ‘We know that right from a young age, good oral health can impact the speech, sleep, eating and overall health of a child. Councils up and down the country have been working hard with local early years providers and schools to improve the oral health of children, including through the Supervised Toothbrushing programme.

 ‘However, there is still a shortage of affordable dental treatment in all communities across the country, particularly rural, coastal and more deprived areas.

 ‘Equal access to NHS dental services is vital for every community to ensure all parents have the same opportunities to look after their children's health. It is vital that the current dental contract is reviewed to make NHS dentistry more viable. There is still more to do to ensure equitable care for all communities.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘It is unacceptable that so many children are ending up in hospital with preventable dental problems. After years of decline in NHS dentistry, we are turning the tide.

‘More children are now seeing an NHS dentist than before the pandemic, and our prevention programmes are helping more young people avoid tooth decay. But we know there is more to do.

‘We are improving access to NHS dentistry through dental contract reform, expanding NHS services in the areas that need it most, and taking action to cut sugar from children's food.'