According to a recent Times article, juvenile tooth decay is on the rise, with over 30,000 children being admitted to UK hospitals with dental caries each year.   Even more startling is the increase in tooth extraction under general anesthesia (up two thirds in less than a decade).

Some experts argue early detection (a positive) is leading to the rise in cases.  Others point to the movement of sedation dentistry to hospitals in 2001 as a natural trigger.

Still, with all we know and all we practice, why is tooth decay on the rise in the UK?   Why are children aged 3 or 4, with healthy diets, fluoridated water sources, and good oral hygiene suffering from cavities?   Online forums are flooded with exasperated parents who are witnessing this phenomenon first hand.