HULL is one of the worst places in the country for tooth decay among five-year-olds, figures show.
A survey by Public Health England found 43.4 per cent have tooth decay, compared to 22.7 per cent in the East Riding.
It also revealed 39.2 per cent in Hull and 20.1 per cent for the East Riding suffered from untreated decay.
Figures for Yorkshire and the Humber region, show 29.3 per cent were not undergoing treatment to tackle the decay.
However, children with sepsis – a dental infection – has reduced from 2.9 per cent to 2.4 per cent since 2008.
Dr Jenny Godson, Public Health England's regional consultant in dental public health, said: "This latest survey shows the numbers of five year olds free from tooth decay have increased, but there is still much to do, dental decay is preventable.
"Across the north, there has been a reduction in the proportion of children affected by dental decay and the severity of the disease.
"This is very encouraging, but we need to continue to monitor trends and support this welcome progress."
Nationally, 27.9 per cent of five year olds had tooth decay in 2012, a reduction from 30.9 per cent in 2008.
The national report also shows levels of decay vary across the country, with more children in northern regions suffering from it, than those in the south and eastern regions.
Levels of decay ranged from 21.2 per cent of five year olds in the south east and 23 per cent in the east to 29.7 per cent in the north east, 33.6 per cent in Yorkshire and the Humber and 34.8 per cent in the north west.
Dr Godson said: "We know that levels of dental decay vary widely amongst five-year-old children living in different parts of the country and in different life circumstances.
"The same factors which affect people's general health such as a healthy diet will affect their oral health too and so we know there are clear links between levels of deprivation and levels of oral health, just as there are with other health issues."
From April this year, local authorities took over the responsibility of assessing the oral health needs of residents, developing oral health strategies and commissioning improvement programmes.
Dr Godson said: "We will be providing support to local authorities and are currently developing commissioning guides starting with a focus on the needs of young children.
"A revised version of Delivering Better Oral Health will be published in 2014.
"This evidence informed toolkit for prevention will be distributed to all NHS practices in England so they can give the best advice to patients about self-care for themselves and their children."
Oral health programmes such as supervised school-based tooth brushing and fluoride varnish programmes are also now being rolled out in schools and childcare settings across the region.
