10 December 2025
New national figures show that tooth decay in adults has risen sharply in England and is now similar to the levels last seen in the late 1990s.
The Adult Oral Health Survey 2023 found that four-in-ten adults have clear signs of decay (41%).
This has risen from 28% in 2009. When early enamel decay is included, almost two-in-three adults (64%) had signs of decay somewhere in their mouth.
This is the first full picture of adult oral health in England for more than ten years.
Key findings
Four-in-ten adults (41%) had obvious decay – similar to 1998.
Nearly two-in-three adults (64%) had signs of decay once enamel damage was included.
Almost one-in-five had a problem that could need urgent treatment, such as dental pain or deep decay.
More than four-in-ten adults (43%) said problems with their mouth affected their daily life.
Regular dental attendance has fallen from 61% in 2009 to just over half (52%).
Many adults said they struggled… Source by Oral Health Foundation Read More
