Quite simply there are two main factors behind this rotten statistic: Children are consuming more sugary foods and drinks more often during the day. Children (and adults) aren’t cleaning their teeth correctly. Studies have shown that over 99% of children brush their teeth with toothpaste. However this is giving them a false belief that they are looking after their teeth. In reality the time they take to brush is too short and the technique they use is wrong. The bigger problem, however, is what we eat and drink. If you want your child to be amongst the 50% that doesn’t have tooth decay by age six, or if you want to stop any further decay from happening the challenge is to get them to change their diet and eating habits.