A DENTAL surgery is on a quest to educate children and parents after recent figures show toddlers in Copeland have one of the highest rates of tooth decay in the country.

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Recent figures released by NHS England show that children under the age of five in west Cumbria have a 25 per cent higher rate of decay than the national average.

Figures also show that in Copeland and Allerdale, 35 per cent of children have experienced dental decay by the time they reach five years old and that they are more than 50 per cent more likely to have a dental abscess than the national average.

However, healthcare professionals are determined to turn Copeland's bad record on its head by hosting a series of healthcare classes to Millom families.


Practice member Beverley Robinson preparing the display for the event. JON GRANGER Beverley Robinson, an oral health educator for Horn Hill Dental Practice in Millom, said: "Copeland has got one of the highest decay rates in the country. Sometimes it can be a lack of education, not a brilliant diet, not brushing two times a day or not seeing a dentist regularly."

Mrs Robinson says sugar plays a major part of tooth decay among young children and that many parents are not aware about how much sugar is in food or how much their children should be allowed.

She said: "There's a lot of hidden sugars in some foods that people are just not aware of.

"Snacks such as yogurt have quite high levels of sugar so it's about showing them what to look out for.

In addition to staying away from sugary treats, there is plenty parents can do to keep decay away.
Practice nurses Paige Birkett (left) and Abigail Gibson show the importance of cleaning gums as well of teeth. JON GRANGER

Mrs Robinson said: "People need to brush twice a day with family friendly toothpaste.

"You need to brush first thing in the morning and last thing at night and you can have nothing to eat or drink after cleaning your teeth.

"Drinking milk or water between meals can also help."

She continued: "You should try and limit your sugar intake to three times a day so it's best to give your children sweets straight after their lunch."

As well as maintaining a healthy diet and regularly brushing your teeth, Mrs Robinson is also urging people to make frequent visits to their dentist as soon as their baby teeth start to appear to prevent dental disease.

Mrs Robinson will be holding a special workshop at Millom Children's Centre on Thursday March 17 and is hoping to make regular visits to schools across the area with practice nurses Paige Birkett and Abigail Gibson.

By not following advice issued by dentists, children can fall victim to tooth decay which could lead to severe pain and even the loss of their teeth.

Mrs Robinson said: "If children don't look after their teeth it can cause serious decay which leads to toothache and pain.

"This could then lead to the tooth having to be taken out.

"It's never good to see children with tooth decay."

Going rate for teeth is revealed on National Tooth Fairy Day

THIS weekend celebrates one of the nation's favourite heroes who take away children's baby teeth and replaces them with financial rewards.

In preparation of National Tooth Fairy Day tomorrow, The Fine Bedding Company quizzed UK households about how generous the tooth fairy is in their town.

The survey revealed that 53 per cent of children receive £1 per tooth, but nine per cent get £2 and a lucky 11 per cent of children wake up to find a mammoth £5 per tooth.

It also shows that a less fortunate 11.5 per cent of children are given 50 pence and 5.5 per cent receive just 20p.


Boy keeps a sneaky eye out for tooth fairy Stories of the tooth fairy's existence date back to 1927 and have now become a traditional practice in countries across the globe.

Prior to the tooth fairy taking up her important role, teeth were burned, buried and put in mouse holes.

It is thought that tooth fairy took her bow to calm children while they were undergoing the strange and fearful experience of losing a tooth.

Sara Wadsworth of The Fine Bedding Company said: “The promise of a visit from the tooth fairy and a gift, usually money, turns the occasion into something to look forward to.

"Children’s beds and bedtimes are such a special place and time that it’s an occasion that should continue to be upheld for as long as possible."