Tooth decay among children on the rise in Latvia

Latest data show that the prevalence of dental problems among children in Latvia has increased over the past five years. For six-year-olds, the caries intensity index for baby teeth rose from 3 to 3.8 between 2020 and 2024, while the index for permanent teeth in this age group increased from 0.4 to 0.7.

In 2024, changes in teeth, tooth alignment or bite were found in 21.1% of six-year-olds, slightly more than a year earlier, when 20.3% of children had such issues. Meanwhile, changes in the tissue surrounding the teeth were recorded in 12.8% of children in this age group, down 0.8 percentage points from 2023.

Twelve-year-olds still affected

Among 12-year-olds, caries prevalence also remains high. The caries intensity index for permanent teeth in this age group rose from 2.1 to 2.5 over the year, and bite abnormalities were found in a quarter of children. However, a positive trend was seen in gum disease, which declined from 17.4% to 14.7% among 12-year-olds.

Fewer dental visits

At the same time, the number of dentist visits by children and teenagers up to age 17 has fallen. In 2024, there were just over 513,000 such visits, compared with nearly 519,000 the year before. The number of first-time visits also dropped, from 160,670 to 154,800.