The Most Common Dental Problems Seen in Wimbledon School Children

Between the school run, packed lunches, sports clubs and the occasional sweet treat, a child's teeth take on a lot during the primary and secondary years. At our Wimbledon Village practice we see the same handful of dental problems come up again and again in school-age children, and the reassuring news is that nearly all of them are preventable or easily treated when caught early. Here are the issues we see most often, what causes them, and the simple steps that make the biggest difference.

1. Tooth decay (the big one)

Tooth decay is comfortably the most common dental problem in school children. Despite being almost entirely preventable, it remains the leading reason for hospital tooth extractions in younger children in England, according to NHS and Oral Health Foundation data. It is driven by how often sugar reaches the teeth rather than how much, so a steady trickle of juice, snacks and "healthy" cereal bars across the day can do more harm than one pudding.

The back molars and the grooves on chewing surfaces are the most vulnerable spots. Catching decay early means a small tooth-coloured filling rather than pain, an abscess or an extraction down the line.

2. New "six-year molars" coming through

Around age six, the first permanent molars erupt right at the back, often without a baby tooth falling out first, so parents don't always notice them. They have deep grooves and are easy to miss when brushing, which makes them a classic decay site. A little extra attention with the toothbrush at the very back, and sometimes a protective fissure sealant, keeps these important adult teeth healthy for life.

3. Sensitivity, erosion and acidic drinks

We see a lot of enamel erosion in school children, and the culprit is usually acidic drinks, fizzy pop, squash, smoothies and fruit juice. Erosion gradually wears the enamel thin, leaving teeth sensitive to cold and looking dull or yellow. Unlike decay it isn't caused by bacteria, so brushing alone won't stop it. Limiting acidic drinks to mealtimes and offering water or milk in between is the single most effective change a family can make.

4. Knocked-out and chipped teeth

Trips, falls and sports collisions make dental trauma one of the most common reasons children need urgent care. Knowing what to do in the first few minutes genuinely changes the outcome for a knocked-out adult tooth:

• Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown (the white part), never the root.
• If it's dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or the child's saliva; don't scrub it.
• Try to reposition it gently back into the socket and have your child bite on a clean cloth.
• If you can't, store it in a cup of milk (not water) and seek emergency dental care immediately.
• Never re-implant a baby tooth, that can damage the adult tooth developing beneath it.

Time is critical: the best results come within 30–60 minutes. Chips and small fractures, while less urgent, are still worth checking promptly and are often repaired with simple bonding.

5. Crowding and bite problems

As adult teeth arrive between roughly ages 6 and 12, crowding, gaps and bite issues become apparent. Most don't need anything done immediately, but an early assessment lets us monitor how the jaws and teeth are developing and flag anything that may benefit from treatment later. For teens, options range from NHS orthodontics through to clear aligners such as Invisalign once most adult teeth are through.

How often should children be seen?

The NHS doesn't set one fixed interval for everyone, your dentist recommends a recall based on your child's individual risk of decay. As a rough guide:

Intervals follow NICE recall guidance and are confirmed by your dentist at the appointment.

Simple prevention that actually works

The fundamentals are unglamorous but powerful. The NHS guidance on children's teeth boils down to a few habits worth protecting:

• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, last thing at night and one other time. Spit, don't rinse, so the fluoride keeps working.
• Supervise brushing until around age seven, when children can manage a thorough clean themselves.
• Keep sugar to mealtimes and make water or milk the everyday drinks.
• Don't skip the back teeth, those new six-year molars need extra attention.
• Keep up regular check-ups and consider a hygienist visit as children get older.

None of this is complicated, and our friendly team in Wimbledon Village is always happy to show children the right technique and answer parents' questions without any rush. You can find the full range of family and general dentistry we offer on our main treatment page.

Frequently asked questions