York and Ryedale children have an average of two baby teeth extracted or filled by the age of five - more than treble the figure for areas with fluoridated water.

The shocking figures accompany a report issued by the British Dental Association showing that children in non-fluoridated areas, such as York, Harrogate and Scarborough, are four more times likely to have teeth extracted than those in fluoridated areas.

The association is calling on the Government to take action and extend water fluoridation to reach 25 per cent of the population where tooth decay rates are "unacceptably high".

The last detailed figures were issued in 1995 when in a top 208 table of the towns and cities where children had the most dental problems, York came 118th (one being the best) and Scarborough 134th. Harrogate lay in 34th position.

The call by the association for more areas to have fluoridated water backs a similar campaign launched in North Yorkshire four years ago.

Dr John Beal, who is North Yorkshire Health Authority's key dental advisor, spearheaded the campaign, but, despite getting the backing of all the health authorities in the region, he claims Yorkshire Water rejected it. He said: "It's absolutely crucial that fluoride is added to the water in North Yorkshire. It would half tooth decay among children within five years."

He warned that if fluoride is not added to the water, decay among North Yorkshire children's teeth will gradually get worse and worse.

According to the report issued today, in areas where there is water fluoridation, decay is generally halved. However, it claims that in Britain's poorest non-fluoridated communities children as young as two are still suffering the "pain, distress and disfigurement" caused by tooth decay.

Dr Beal was today attending a special conference organised by the National Alliance for Equity in Dental Health. The alliance consists of 39 national medical, dental and voluntary organisations, including the British Medical Association, the British Dental Association and the NHS Confederation.

Nobody was available for comment at Yorkshire Water today.

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