A SHOCK report in National Smile Week has revealed the rotten truth about teenagers in Burnley and Pendle - they have the worst teeth in the country.

Our 14-year-olds are rock bottom of the tooth-decay league with an average of almost four bad teeth in every mouth.

Dental health experts say the twin boroughs' children eat too many sweets, drink too many fizzy drinks and don't brush often enough with fluoride toothpaste.

But they say the main problem is that we don't have fluoridated water.

The Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale health district came 178th out of 178.

Our average of 3.78 decayed, missing or filled teeth compares with 0.92 for the first-placed districts, Southend and Merton and Sutton.

Dr Gary Whittle, consultant in dental health for east Lancashire, told the Citizen: "Teenagers in east Lancashire have very little to smile about. Surveys in the past have shown that children's dental health in this area is very poor, but this league table shows that it has hit rock bottom.

"Research has shown that teenagers in east Lancashire have a sweet tooth. In addition, Lancashire folk purchase less toothpaste than other parts of the country."

The health authority and the NHS trusts are fighting to reverse the trend with a campaign to coincide with national smile week (May 13 to 19). Displays are on in health centres and educators are stepping up dental health lessons in schools.

Burnley dental health educator Sharon Young told the Citizen: "The biggest factor is water fluoridation. The top 10 or 12 districts all have fluoridated water, while the bottom 20 do not."

She added: "In the south, people spend an average of £5.14 a year on fluoride toothpaste for every person. In Lancashire it is only £2.82."

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