Parents should supervise children brushing their teeth until at least the age of eight, dentists said yesterday.

Dental experts at The Royal College of Surgeons made the warning in a worrying report on the state of British children's teeth.

Rotten teeth are the primary cause for a trip to hospital for under-nines. Nearly 26,000 children between five and nine needed hospital treatment in 2013-14, up 14 per cent since 2010-11.

A total of around 46,500 children and young people under 19 were admitted to hospital with tooth decay in 2013-14.

In its recommendations to stop the rot, the RCS advised parents: 'Brush teeth with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes twice a day and supervise children's tooth-brushing until they are at least eight years old.'

The report – The State of Children's Oral Health in England – said there may be several reasons for this rise in dental problems among the young.

These include children not visiting a dentist until it is too late and more youngsters not brushing their teeth properly.

Professor Nigel Hunt, dean of the Royal College of Surgeons' dental faculty, said: 'It is absolutely intolerable that in this day and age, in a civilised country, children are having so many teeth out for decay, which is over 90 per cent preventable. 

We need to stop talking and have action to bring several bodies together – the Royal College of Surgeons, Public Health England, NHS England, government and industry – to make sure we improve all aspects of oral health.'

As the Daily Mail reported on Monday, the British Medical Association wants a 20 per cent sugar tax on sugary drinks which can rot teeth, although the Government has said it is not considering it.

The report – The State of Children's Oral Health in England – said there may be several reasons for this rise in dental problems among the young.

These include children not visiting a dentist until it is too late and more youngsters not brushing their teeth properly.

Professor Nigel Hunt, dean of the Royal College of Surgeons' dental faculty, said: 'It is absolutely intolerable that in this day and age, in a civilised country, children are having so many teeth out for decay, which is over 90 per cent preventable. 

We need to stop talking and have action to bring several bodies together – the Royal College of Surgeons, Public Health England, NHS England, government and industry – to make sure we improve all aspects of oral health.'