YOUNGSTERS in parts of Kirklees have some of the worst teeth in the country.
A new survey revealed that children in North Kirklees, Merthyr in South Wales and Argyll and Clyde, Scotland, have the worst teeth in the UK, says toothpaste company Colgate.
The study, which looked at the state of five-year olds throughout the country, reveals that, far from improving, children's dental health is getting worse in some regions.
To help combat this, 1m dental products are being given away in schools and dental surgeries in the affected areas as part of Colgate Oral Health Month throughout September.
Merthyr, which is a new entrant to the league table in 2005, records an average of 3.73 decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft) per child.
North Kirklees, which has leapt from 2.87dmft in the last study to 3.69, comes a close second.
Third place goes to Argyll and Clyde, which has an average of 3.67 dmft per child.
Further areas in the top 15 include Greater Glasgow at 3.45, Preston with 3.30 and Bolton on 3.23.
But it's not all bad news for youngsters' teeth.
At the opposite end of the scale, the top areas in the UK's league of smiles are Maidstone Weald in Kent, with just 0.47 dmft per child.
It is followed by Suffolk Coastal (0.49) and Epping Forest in Essex (0.50).
A Colgate spokesman said: "The dental health of five-year-old children in the UK is a major concern.
"While we continue our quest to improve dental care among children in the worst areas of the country, there is still a need to continue with good oral hygiene, even in the best areas."
ADVICE from the British Dental Association is:
* Brush teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
* Change your toothbrush every three months
* Visit the dentist regularly
* Avoid sugary food and drinks
