UK- Bolton must brush up on oral hygiene

Bolton must brush up on oral hygiene
By Jane Lavender
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ROOT OF THE PROBLEM: Children in Bolton are being encouraged to brush their teeth and cut down on sweets YOUNGSTERS in Bolton's poorest areas have at least four teeth which are missing or rotting. That is the finding of a study carried out in 98 primary schools from January to July, 2006. Five-year-olds in the former Central ward - which includes areas such as Hall i'th' Wood - have 4.2 teeth damaged by decay.
And even in the best-performing ward of Bromley Cross, the average five-year-old has 1.08 missing teeth, fillings or tooth decay, which is above the Government target of just one per child. Across the borough, there is almost three times the acceptable level of dental problems among five-year-olds, a slight reduction compared to a study carried out 12 months earlier. Leading NHS dentist and member of the Bolton Dental Society Chris Brooks said: "This reflects the relationship between oral health and deprivation. "The dental health of five-year-olds in Bolton is worse now than it was in 1997." Health bosses admitted there were pleased there had been a slight improvement, but stressed they would be continuing to work with schools and Sure Start centres to build on the progress already made. Deborah Harkin, deputy director of public health, said: "We're pleased to see this improvement, but there is certainly no cause for complacency, particularly given the variations within Bolton. "We have seen fluctuations in the past where the numbers have gone down and then up again, and we are still a long way from where we want to be. Our oral health promotion team will be continuing its good work." This includes initiatives such as the NHS Brush Bus, which visits the borough's schools and nurseries to hand out tooth brushes to youngsters and give them advice on looking after their teeth. Dentists are now calling for fluoride to be added to the borough's water supply in a bid to improve the health of children's teeth.
Bolton Primary Care Trust bosses have already added their backing to the move and are planning to campaign for its introduction.
The consultation into adding fluoride to the water supply is continuing.
Mr Brooks said: "A good diet and regular teeth brushing in combination with adjusting the levels of fluoride in drinking water would be the best and most cost effective way of improving these disappointing figures."
But Bolton North-east MP David Crausby, is against adding fluoride to the borough's water.
He said: "I'm not opposed to improving the quality of children's teeth, but I think there's a better way, such as educating them to brush their teeth and eat fewer sweets.
"I strongly believe this is mass medication, and even though it might be good, each individual has the right to decide what they consume and they're entitled to pure water."
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