FEWER 12-year-old children in Wales are experiencing tooth decay, according to a new report.

The report, by the Welsh Oral Health Information Unit shows since 2004-05, the proportion of children who have no tooth decay has risen from 54.9 per cent to 64.0 per cent in 2012-13.

In 2013, in a class of 30 children, about 19 will have no decay in their permanent teeth compared with about 16 in 2004.

There is still a strong relationship between dental decay and deprivation. However, this latest survey shows signs of a faster improving position for children in the most deprived communities.

This reduction in dental decay in children continues the trend of marked improvement in oral health over the last 25 years, which has seen the average prevalence of decay reduce by more than half.

Health minister Mark Drakeford said: “This report shows a very welcome reduction in the number of 12-year-old children in Wales with tooth decay. It is encouraging more children have no obvious decay experience in their permanent teeth by the age of 12.

“Our Designed to Smile programme has been working with younger children; we hope its effects will be seen in future surveys and will have had a positive impact in speeding up improvements in the oral health of children living in some of our more deprived communities.”