FLUORIDE could be added to Southampton's water supplies after it was revealed nearly half the city's five-year-olds have decayed teeth.

Southampton health bosses last night agreed to begin action which could see a water fluor-idation scheme introduced to improve the city's dental health.

Latest figures show 47 per cent of five-year-olds in Southampton have decayed, missing or filled teeth.

Worryingly, the number has risen ten per cent in the past two years, despite efforts to tackle the problem through oral health promotion programmes and other measures.

Research by Southampton City Primary Care Trust found the 47 per cent of youngsters who had suffered tooth decay had an average of more than four rotten, missing and filled teeth each.

The dental health of five-year-olds was found to be worse in Southampton than other parts of south-west Hampshire, with poorer areas of the city worst affected.

Now Southampton City PCT has backed the principle of water fluoridation in a bid to brush up local people's dental health.

Last night, board members agreed to ask Hampshire and Isle of Strategic Health Authority to co-ordinate cost and feasibility studies of fluoridating the water.

If the results are positive, the idea will be put out for public consultation.

Andrew Mortimore, Southampton's director of public health, said: "Child dental health in Southampton is particularly poor, with over a third of five-year-olds having decayed, missing or filled teeth, and it's getting worse.

"Last year 3,203 teeth were extracted, 2,752 of these from children.

"Oral health promotion programmes have been in place for a number of years in Southampton, but dental problems persist, despite the PCT's continuous development and investment into these programmes." He added: "There is plenty of evidence that proves fluoridation can reduce dental decay."

Water fluoridation is thought to be the most effective way of improving dental health, particularly in children, as it does not require a change in behaviour.