Children’s oral health improved but postcode gap remains

A decade-long examination of child oral health in Queensland has found population-based programs have helped the state achieve meaningful improvements, but not all children are benefitting from the gains made.

The University of Queensland-led Queensland Child Oral Health Study (QCOHS) 2022-24 involved significant collaboration with health and education sector partners, including Queensland Health, Education Queensland, and several universities. 

Professor Loc Do from UQ’s School of Dentistry said oral health data was collected from 7,718 Queensland school students aged between 5 -14 years, and these results were compared with the first QCOHS study in 2010-2012.

“We found there has been a significant reduction in dental decay over the last decade across all age groups,” Professor Do said.

"The reduction was observed primarily in areas where water fluoridation was implemented and has continued since 2010.

“Nearly one-third of Queensland children were found to lack access to fluoridated water, mainly in regional areas, highlighting the oral health inequities.

“The rates of untreated decay varied widely by residential location, ranging from 21.1 per cent in major cities to 39.1 per cent in remote and very remote areas.”

The report found the number of children who first saw a dentist by the time they turned two had risen significantly from 20 to 31 per cent, but there was still room for improvement. 

“Children from lower-income and lower-education households were twice as likely to have never attended a dental provider despite the availability of the Commonwealth Government’s Child Dental Benefits Schedule, which provides free basic dental services, including check-ups for eligible children,” Professor Do said.

“The findings also highlight the practical actions families could take to support good oral health. 

“Parents can play a key role in establishing good oral hygiene habits by encouraging children to brush their teeth twice a day – we found only 63 per cent of children are doing this, down from 72 per cent a decade ago,” he said.

"Good oral health is also supported by choosing healthy snacks and making tap water the drink of choice."

The proportion of children consuming sugary drinks has fallen by 22 percentage points, from 51 per cent to 29 per cent, reflecting positive changes in health behaviours.

Queensland Chief Dental Officer Dr Ben Stute said the report highlighted major improvements in oral health over the last decade but stressed there were ongoing challenges that need to be addressed.

“It’s great to see a decrease in dental decay among Queensland children, however, a child’s postcode and parental income continue to influence oral health,” Dr Stute said.

“The insights from this report will help us to better target dental services and preventive strategies in areas of identified need.

“I encourage families to engage with the free dental care services available, to attend regular check-ups, and to help children to develop good oral health habits and behaviours to support healthy teeth through childhood and into adulthood.”

The study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and supported by Queensland Health.

Early findings from the report were presented to researchers and policymakers in October last year.

Read the full report on the UQ Pressbooks.

Collaboration and acknowledgements