Call for more water fluoridation in Northumberland to prevent tooth decay

Northumberland has the highest rate in the North East of children under four being admitted to hospital for tooth decay, as well as the highest rate of general anaesthetics for this issue. The statistics for the county do reveal positives too; the 2017 Oral Health Survey shows that 77.4 per cent of five-year-olds in the county were free from obvious dental decay – higher than the England and regional averages and an increase from 61.2 per cent 10 years before. Five-year-olds in Northumberland also have an average of 0.64 teeth that are decayed, missing or filled, which is lower than the England average and in the lowest third of local authorities in the region. However, a similar survey of 12-year-olds identified that this value was 1.2, the highest number in the North East and significantly higher than the England average. Only 54.9 per cent of children this age were free from decay.

Read more at: https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/call-for-more-water-fluoridation-in-northumberland-to-prevent-tooth-decay-1-9656382