Leicester Children have the Worst Teeth in England, Survey Reveals
A survey by the NHS has revealed that children in Leicester have the worst teeth in England.
The NHS report, which featured statistics from 2008/2009, showed that 45.3 percent of 12 year old children had tooth decay, in comparison to the English average, which is 17 percent.
Representatives from NHS Leicester City Primary Care Trust said that they needed to work harder, to make people aware of the importance of good oral hygiene. Ivan Browne, a consultant in public health for NHS Leicester City, said that people needed to take responsibility for their health. Spending just a few minutes each day cleaning and flossing the teeth makes a huge difference and members of the public must work with the Trust to try and improve standards of oral health in the city.
The British Dental Association said that there were many possible causes of tooth decay but the disease is largely preventable and therefore it is important that people are aware of how to practise good oral hygiene. It is also important that people realise the importance of attending regular dental appointments.
Jancy Pope, a specialist paediatric dentist at Westcotes Clinic in Leicester, suggested that better oral health education and access to fluoridated water would help to reduce rates of decay in the area.
Join this Discussion
