MORE than a third of children are starting school in Southampton with rotting teeth, the Daily Echo can reveal.

The shocking figures are also on the rise, bucking the national trend, and confirm Southampton has the worst dental hygiene rates in the South East.

City health chiefs say more needs to be done to tackle the problem, although new projects are being rolled out to help improve children’s teeth.

Eighteen months ago plans to add fluoride to Southampton’s water supply were scrapped after public outcry over the move.

Public Health England confirmed they would not go ahead with the scheme in the face of overwhelming public opposition and against the wishes of both Hampshire County and Southampton City councils.

But they insisted adding fluoride to the supplies of 160,000 Southampton residents and a further 35,000 people in neighbouring parts of south west Hampshire, was safe and effective way to help address the area’s poor dental health record.

Daily Echo: PUBLIC ANGER: Marching against fluoridation through Southampton city centre in May 2013

Southampton residents march against fluoride in 2013

The latest figures show a deterioration in the levels of tooth decay since that decision was made. When asked whether the plan could be tabled again a spokesman for Public Health England said it would be down to the local authority to begin that discussion.

A statement read: “Water fluoridation is one of a range of actions, including supervised tooth brushing, that councils can consider to improve oral health in their area.”

The new statistics published by PHE in its latest Oral Health Survey from 2014/15 were revealed as the Government announced a tax on sugary sodas in the Queen’s Speech yesterday.

They showed that 33.7 per cent of 1,155 five-year-olds in Southampton surveyed displayed obvious signs of tooth decay.

That is up from 29.9 per cent in 2012 when 2,538 youngsters were surveyed and 31 per cent in 2008 when 307 children were checked Nationally 24.7 per cent of children surveyed most recently, were suffering from tooth decay – the lowest level in more than a decade.

In Hampshire 15 per cent per cent of youngsters surveyed had tooth decay compared to 17.2 per cent in 2012.

And neighbouring Portsmouth has made huge strides with 18.1per cent of youngsters assessed suffering it - down 14 per cent from 32.1 per cent eight years ago.

City council cabinet member for health Councillor Dave Shields, pictured above, said the council was fighting back with a range of initiatives including the Saving Smiles programme being rolled out in pre-schools, day nurseries and among childminders where staff are being trained as oral health “champions”.

He said: “Giving every child in Southampton the best start in life is a key priority of Southampton City Council and keeping children healthy and free from dental decay is very important to this as they are learning to speak and socialise.”

Cllr Shields said of the 500 Southampton children admitted to hospital for dental extractions under general anaesthetic in 2014-15, around 180 were aged under five years and the highest levels of decay and cavities experienced by those in the city’s most most deprived areas.

Daily Echo:

Dr Sandra White, director of dental public health at Public Health England, said: “One child with tooth decay is one too many and there is still much inequality in dental health around the country. Tooth decay is painful and too often results in teeth extraction, some under general anaesthetic.”

She urged parents to limit their children’s sugary food and drink, encourage their youngsters to brush their teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and take regular trips to the dentist.

The tax on sugary sodas has been drawn up to fight childhood obesity and will be imposed in 2018.

The levy has been opposed by the soft-drink industry, but the government says it will raise millions that can be spent on school sports and breakfast clubs.