A Bradford nursery and children’s centre has embarked on a week-long healthy teeth campaign after discovering one in four of its youngsters is not registered with a dentist.

A questionnaire at St Edmund’s Nursery School and Children’s Centre in Washington Street, Girlington, uncovered the fact that a quarter of children had never been to a dentist and some did not even have a toothbrush.

Claire Birch, family and community services leader at St Edmund’s, which caters for youngsters up to the age of five, said: “Bradford has one of the worst records in the country for poor dental hygiene, with a lot of children having to have fillings and even some teeth removed as early as three years of age.

“In response to this and the information we uncovered in our questionnaire we have invited parents and carers to attend the activities we have planned all week, with their children, and take on board the advice given.”

Cherene Aggarwal and Ben Marlow, from A&S Dental Surgery in Duckworth Lane, visited the school to talk to the children and to donate toothbrushes and toothpaste. Items have also been donated by the oral health promotion team and every child will be given a free toothbrush and toothpaste.