HEALTH bosses think fluoride in the water supply could be the answer to the serious tooth rot problem in Kirklees.
The most recent figures show five-year-olds in Kirklees have an average of 2.68 decayed, missing or filled teeth – the worst figure in West Yorkshire.
The average across England is just 1.49.
In an earlier report, Batley was identified as the worst town in England with a figure of 4.03.
Kirklees Primary Care Trust’s (PCT) board yesterday approved an action plan to deal with the problem.
Proposals include requesting the return of fluoride in water. Tooth decay in five-year-olds in the Huddersfield area has doubled since fluoride was removed form the area’s water supply in 1989.
Kirklees PCT has drawn up an Oral Health Strategy and Action Plan for 2008-2011.
It says: “Water fluoridation is considered by public health experts to be the method of choice to improve the dental health of all groups.
“If fluoridation is acceptable it will be for the PCT to request that the Strategic Health Authority work with the local water undertaker to look at the feasibility of introducing fluoridated water in areas of poor oral health.”
In February, health secretary Alan Johnson urged the NHS to consider fluoridating tap water in areas with poor dental health. The Government has made an extra £14m available over three years for this.
