The proportion of Primary 1 children with no obvious dental decay across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has risen to 72.7%, according to figures welcomed by Tom Arthur MSP.
The figure is up 4.1 percentage points from 68.6% in 2024. However, it remains below the Scottish average of 76.0%.
Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley, welcomed the improvement across the health board area.
According to figures cited in his release from Public Health Scotland’s National Dental Inspection Programme 2026, the national proportion of P1 children with no obvious experience of dental decay is the highest since records began in 2003.
The average number of decayed, missing or filled primary teeth across Scotland also fell to 0.92, the lowest level recorded.
Arthur said: “This is genuinely encouraging news and a credit to children, parents, dental teams, schools and everyone involved in supporting good oral health from an early age.
“Across Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the proportion of P1 children with no obvious experience of decay has risen by more than four percentage points since 2024. We should rightly celebrate that progress. However, the local figure remains below the Scottish average, so there is clearly more work to do and no room for complacency.
“Programmes such as Childsmile, alongside free NHS dental check-ups for everyone in Scotland, demonstrate the value of strong preventative public services—helping families, reducing inequalities and addressing problems before they become painful and more difficult to treat.”