UK - THE average Manchester five-year-old has five decayed or missing teeth.
Rotten state of kids' teeth
Amanda Crook
October 21, 2009
THE average Manchester five-year-old has five decayed or missing teeth.
More than half of the city's young children have suffered problems with at least one tooth by the time they start school, according to a new study.
The survey from the North West Public Health Observatory reveals Manchester and Rochdale are among the 10 areas with the worst dental health records.
The snapshot of dental health suggests less than a third of children across England suffer from dental decay.
Gill Davies, from the observatory said: "The north west has the highest average number of decayed, missing or filled teeth with the average five-year-old in the worst places like Manchester having five teeth affected - a quarter of a child of this age's teeth.
"We also know that by far the most common reason for a child to be admitted to hospital is to have a tooth extracted."
Staff collecting data for the survey examined 140,000 five-year-old children from state schools across 147 of the 152 Primary Care Trust (PCT) areas of England during the school year 2007/2008.
David Regan acting director of public health for NHS Manchester said: "We are working hard to improve dental health in schools, sure start centres and dental practices but home care is key - parents need to reduce the number of times their children have sugary drinks and food - ideally to mealtimes.
"They should supervise their child brushing their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, once at the end of the day."
Manchester health visitors also give out packs of toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste to parents of young children to get them into the habit of caring for their children's teeth. There are supervised tooth brushing schemes in sure start centres and some nurseries.
And 10,000 children across the city have milk with added fluoride every day at primary school.
Comments
Most recent user comments 3 of 3
The dentist industry is a complete mess ever since they where given the option of being on the nhs or private. they should never have done that in the first place. just to save a few pounds off the nhs. yet another example of how this country is becoming more like a 3rd world one!
Jay B, oldham
21/10/2009 at 15:24
just look at the parents giving their babies sugary drinks to keep the offsprings quiet.and look at the same going on when parents pick their kids up from school they give their kids these high energy sugary drinks with those nipple type tops that concentrate the drinks directly to the front teeth. parents dont listen? Sugary drinks are bad for children...but they still buy gallons when i see them comming out of asda and other stores.
Local lad, outsidethebox
21/10/2009 at 12:40
This is not just evident in Children,
The only way anyone can get to the dentist without having to pay is to be a benefit scrounging employment dodger.
As a person who has been in fulltime employment since I was 16, some 15 years ago I have always paid my taxes, contributed to society in a positive way yet can I get to see a dentist on the NHS?? No can I hell, even after paying for the privelidge.
I have never needed to go into hospital at all since as far back as I can remember yet would benefit seeing the dentist at least once a year so in effect I and most taxpayers are paying for NHS medical care whilst at the same time being denied dental care unless we want to pay for it.
Its like having car insurance on a car you don't own anymore.
No wonder this country stinks - its this country thats rotten along with the teeth.
Amanda Crook
October 21, 2009
THE average Manchester five-year-old has five decayed or missing teeth.
More than half of the city's young children have suffered problems with at least one tooth by the time they start school, according to a new study.
The survey from the North West Public Health Observatory reveals Manchester and Rochdale are among the 10 areas with the worst dental health records.
The snapshot of dental health suggests less than a third of children across England suffer from dental decay.
Gill Davies, from the observatory said: "The north west has the highest average number of decayed, missing or filled teeth with the average five-year-old in the worst places like Manchester having five teeth affected - a quarter of a child of this age's teeth.
"We also know that by far the most common reason for a child to be admitted to hospital is to have a tooth extracted."
Staff collecting data for the survey examined 140,000 five-year-old children from state schools across 147 of the 152 Primary Care Trust (PCT) areas of England during the school year 2007/2008.
David Regan acting director of public health for NHS Manchester said: "We are working hard to improve dental health in schools, sure start centres and dental practices but home care is key - parents need to reduce the number of times their children have sugary drinks and food - ideally to mealtimes.
"They should supervise their child brushing their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, once at the end of the day."
Manchester health visitors also give out packs of toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste to parents of young children to get them into the habit of caring for their children's teeth. There are supervised tooth brushing schemes in sure start centres and some nurseries.
And 10,000 children across the city have milk with added fluoride every day at primary school.
Comments
Most recent user comments 3 of 3
The dentist industry is a complete mess ever since they where given the option of being on the nhs or private. they should never have done that in the first place. just to save a few pounds off the nhs. yet another example of how this country is becoming more like a 3rd world one!
Jay B, oldham
21/10/2009 at 15:24
just look at the parents giving their babies sugary drinks to keep the offsprings quiet.and look at the same going on when parents pick their kids up from school they give their kids these high energy sugary drinks with those nipple type tops that concentrate the drinks directly to the front teeth. parents dont listen? Sugary drinks are bad for children...but they still buy gallons when i see them comming out of asda and other stores.
Local lad, outsidethebox
21/10/2009 at 12:40
This is not just evident in Children,
The only way anyone can get to the dentist without having to pay is to be a benefit scrounging employment dodger.
As a person who has been in fulltime employment since I was 16, some 15 years ago I have always paid my taxes, contributed to society in a positive way yet can I get to see a dentist on the NHS?? No can I hell, even after paying for the privelidge.
I have never needed to go into hospital at all since as far back as I can remember yet would benefit seeing the dentist at least once a year so in effect I and most taxpayers are paying for NHS medical care whilst at the same time being denied dental care unless we want to pay for it.
Its like having car insurance on a car you don't own anymore.
No wonder this country stinks - its this country thats rotten along with the teeth.
posted by Bill at
9:48 AM
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