North Yorkshire kids could be at risk of tooth decay due to affordability
Dentists say they have noticed a rise in missed appointments
There are warnings a generation of children across North Yorkshire could be at risk from rotting teeth due to the cost of living crisis.
Dentists say they have noticed a rise in missed appointments with fear that some cannot afford to get to practices.
Mark Green is an NHS dentist in Kirbymoorside and previously owned a practice in Whitby.
He said: "If we can get patients to bring their children to the dentist we can start to get on top of these things before they end up at hospital with multiple extractions. The biggest reason for going into hospital is general anaesthetic for clearances of teeth.
"We've got lots of people not turn up recently and it's such a waste of time for everyone when they just don't turn up. If you can't make it then let the dentist know. Just give them a ring because there's plenty of people we can fill that space with but if you don't turn up then it's a waste of space.
"Children's oral health has got a lot worse during the pandemic. Children were at home, they weren't at school and they had access to the fridge, cupboards and they were feeding themselves. A lot more snacking was going on and that has a detrimental effect on the health of their mouth. If you're constantly grazing it's worse for your teeth because you're constantly causing an acid attack on those teeth.
Mark added that he understands parents are worried about travel costs but any problems will not go away: "A stitch in time saves nine. It really does. If you get that problem sorted it's less of an issue later on. If you leave it too late then often all that can be done is an extraction and no-one wants to have that as a children or an adult.