Tooth decay found in 30 per cent of children
A report by the Centre for Public Health states that 29.3 per cent of the children surveyed had at least one tooth decayed, missing or filled.
This is slightly below the national average of 30.9 per cent and significantly better than the South West's worst area, Bristol, with 38 per cent.
The report also showed the city had the highest percentage of children with dental abscesses or sepsis in the South West, at 5.1 per cent.
This is more than double the national average of 2.3 per cent.
Alan Yardley, head of dental services for NHS Plymouth, said: "The dental examination of five-year-old children in Plymouth was completed during the 2007-08 school year, a little over a year ago. In general the oral health of young people is improving in Plymouth and these results show that we have a lower percentage of five-year-old children with decay than the national average.
"However, we do know that there is a greater incidence of tooth decay among those living in areas of higher social deprivation.
"NHS Plymouth's oral health team has been targeting schools where there are higher numbers of children with tooth decay, delivering oral health education to children that is age and ability orientated, for example giving free toothbrushes and toothpaste, promoting drinking water in schools and free fruit.
"It is really important that parents take their children to a dentist for regular examinations from about the age of two and a half. If people living in Plymouth would like to see an NHS dentist they can add their name to the NHS Plymouth database which is a list of names of those who wish to access regular dentistry. Patients should write stating name, address, telephone number and date of birth to: NHS Plymouth, FREEPOST, NAT 22278, Plymouth, PL6 5QZ."
The survey, undertaken during the school year 2007/8, included 139,727 clinical examinations across the country. This included 211 five-year-olds from Plymouth.
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