Improved oral health for children in Scotland
The annual official statistics on children’s oral health from Public Health Scotland has revealed that in 2026, 76% of P1 children (that is, children typically aged from 10 to 12) in Scotland had no obvious decay experience, which is the highest level recorded since the survey began in 2003.
The average number of decayed, missing and filled primary teeth also fell to a record low at 0.92. In 2024, the mean level was 0.99.
However oral health inequalities remained evident in 2026, with 62% of inspected children living in the most socioeconomically deprived areas having no obvious decay experience, compared to 87.3% of those living in the least deprived areas.
The statistics are the findings from the 2026 National Dental Inspection Programme, which monitors children’s oral health.
Pupils examined are categorised as Primary 1 (P1, typically aged four to six) and Primary 7 (P7, typically aged 10 to 12) who are offered a basic inspection each year.
