MORE than 10,000 children in both Bournemouth and Poole did not see their dentist last year.

Public Health England recommends regular trips to the dentist to stop children needing tooth extractions.

Yet in Bournemouth 10,577 children did not visit the dentist at least once in 2017, putting them at risk of rotten teeth and gum disease.

Figures from NHS Digital show that 70.2 per cent of youngsters, 24,953 in total, had an annual check up.

In Poole 12,485 children did not visit the dentist, and just 58.6 per cent of youngsters, 17,691 in total, had an annual check up.

The importance of regular trips to the dentist is highlighted by the fact that in England the most common reason for under 18s to attend hospital is for multiple rotten teeth extractions.

This is where decay is so advanced dentists are unable to treat it at their surgeries.

The numbers highlight the crisis with tooth decay, and the British Dental Association (BDA) has said that the low number of check ups could contribute to this.

NHS statistics show that in the 2012/13 financial year there were 36,883 extractions where at least two teeth had to be removed, but by 2016/17 this had risen to 42,911.

BDA chairman Mick Armstrong said: "There is no room for complacency when tooth decay remains the number one reason for child hospital admissions.

"Getting kids brushing and seeing a dentist shouldn't be optional extras. Sadly parents are being left without guidance, while politicians seem content keeping costs down and patients away.

"In Wales and Scotland we're seeing record breaking improvements in decay, backed up by public information and outreach in schools and nurseries. England needs more than token efforts.

"Getting kids in the habit of attending is key to life-long oral health, and under 18s should be seeing their dentist at least every 12 months."

In Bournemouth the number of children going to the dentist has gone up slightly, 1,269 more than in 2017 than in the previous year. The reverse was true in Poole.

The figures show adults are not setting a good example for children.

Last year 64.4 per cent of adults in Bournemouth and 47.3 per cent of adults in Poole visited the dentist once in the last 24 months.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: "We are determined to reduce the number of children having teeth extracted because of tooth decay, that's why we're introducing a sugar tax on soft drinks with the most added sugar, which comes into effect next month.

"Access to dental services continues to increase nationally – in 2017, 6.9 million children were seen by a dentist representing 58.2 per cent of the child population."