30th - September - 2014
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE... NEWS
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LIFEextra
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Will a Scouser ever win the Ryder Cup?
Our Amy finds dream job after graduation
Liverpool libraries face closures
SPORT
BROLLY GOOD PROLONGED SUMMER: Liverpool basks in the early autumn sun after experiencing the driest start to the season since records began in 1910. Before this, the driest September on record was in 1959, following the eighth wettest August. The UK as a whole received only 19.4mm of rain, just a fifth of the normal amount of rainfall expected for a September month. Photo: Steph Bewley
TOOTH TRAUMA By SOPHIE LOCKETT
One in ten Merseyside three-year-olds are showing signs of tooth decay, according to a national survey.
Experts from Public Health England are warning that 12% of three-year-olds across the country have tooth decay, with 10% of Merseyside children affected by the oral health issue. The national study was the first of its kind carried out, examining the oral health of toddlers in
England. More than 50,000 children took part in the survey which spanned across nurseries, playgroups and children’s centres. Dr Sandra White, the Director of Dental Public Health at Public Health England, said: “Tooth decay is an entirely preventable disease, which can be very painful and even result in a child having teeth removed under general anaesthetic, which is stressful for children and parents alike.” Locally, on the Wirral, 13% of three-year-olds were found to
Dental shock for region’s toddlers
have tooth decay. The North West was also one of the worst affected regions, showing the joint highest levels of decay along with the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber and London. Of the children who have been affected by the disease, on average three of their teeth were shown to be decayed. It is a concern that in some cases a type of decay known as ‘Early Childhood Caries’ was
discovered in the survey. This affects the child’s upper front teeth and usually appears when children have been drinking fizzy drinks out of baby bottles or from sipping cups. Dr White said: “Thankfully, tooth decay in children can be prevented by following a healthy lifestyle. Parents and carers should reduce the amount of sugary foods and drinks they give their children and support them to brush their teeth twice
a day with a fluoride toothpaste, especially just before bedtime.” She also emphasised the importance of regular trips to the dentist for children so that parents and carers are aware of the best way to keep their child’s teeth and gums healthy. The findings come after a survey of five-year-old children carried out in 2012 found that more than one in four had some degree of tooth decay. This most recent study, howev-
er, improves on these findings, with 88% of three-year-olds in England being tooth decay free. Dr White added: “While there have been significant improvements to the nation’s oral health, some areas still experience problems with tooth decay among young children.” Leicester was the worst affected area in the country, where 34% of tots had rotting teeth compared to just 2% in south Gloucestershire.