Nearly 10 per cent of Derbyshire kids suffer from tooth decay

Public Health England (PHE) researchers found 9.2 per cent of three-year-olds in the county had evidence of tooth decay.

The figure is below the national average of 11.7 per cent – but public health officials at Derbyshire County Council say they are not complacent.

A spokesman said: “We’re pleased to see that Derbyshire’s figures are below the national average and we will be working hard to ensure that they continue to stay low.

“This is really positive and tells us that parents understand the impact poor oral health can have on their children and are taking steps to avoid it.

“We know there are areas where we can do better and we will be targeting those with oral health promotion initiatives.

“We will continue working with families and communities to improve oral heath in children and our ambition would be for no child to need treatment for tooth decay.

“This will include encouraging children to develop good tooth care routines early on, brushing with fluoride toothpaste, avoiding too many sugary drinks and sweets, which in turn will contribute towards maintaining healthy teeth throughout childhood and ultimately improve long-term oral health for adults.”

For more information on the report, visit www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england