UK - Bradford Much to be done to tackle high rates of tooth decay among district's children, report warns

HIGH rates of tooth decay among Bradford's under fives will again come under scrutiny by health chiefs next week.

Nearly half of all five years olds (46 per cent) have some tooth decay - significantly worse than the regional average of 34 per cent and the national average of 28 per cent.

And earlier this year the Telegraph & Argus revealed how three toddlers in Bradford have rotten teeth pulled out in hospital every week.

Now, a report to Bradford Council's Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee compiled by Bradford Public Health, Public Health England and NHS England warns that while there are signs of improvement - there is still much work to be done.

The problem, which has strong links to social deprivation, has been identified as a key health priority and the Council has invested in a number of programmes under the banner of Building Brighter Smiles, aimed at the under-fives.

Education programmes have started to discourage parents using sugary drinks in feeder bottles and to encourage regular teeth brushing with supervised brushing even taking place at some schools, the report states.

So far more than 16,700 under fives in the district have also undergone fluoride varnishing which takes place twice yearly at school nurseries.................