BRADFORD has to stop 'pussy-footing about' to tackle a children's dental health crisis, a leading councillor has warned.

Councillor Ralph Berry said new evidence of young people having rotten teeth extracted unnecessarily highlights 'a terrible problem' in the district.

And he said if the district's tap water cannot have fluoride added, more efforts must be made to protect children in other ways.

"The dividends would be massive," said Cllr Berry, executive member for children and young people's services.

He was responding to a Commons select committee being told that a shortage of paediatric dental specialists was forcing youngsters to have teeth out under heavy anaesthetic in hospital.

MPs heard some children had to wait months to see a dental specialist, with some young people having an average of nine baby teeth removed by the age of five.

Last year, the Telegraph & Argus revealed that three Bradford under-fives have teeth pulled out in hospital every week, because of infections caused by eating sugary food and failing to brush teeth properly.

Official statistics showed that 462 children in the city were admitted to hospital over a three-year period, with 'dental issues'. Such extractions can create problems later in childhood, making expensive treatment more likely further down the line.

The health select committee was told the evidence sparked fresh calls for fluoride to be added to tap water in a bid to stem decay.

Cllr Berry said: "This is a terrible problem in Bradford.

"I don't think fluoride will happen here, but it would make a huge difference if it did. There is more risk to children undergoing heavy anaesthetic than there is from fluoride.

"We have to have a major push to address this. We have an explosion in unhealthy diets and then wonder why our school results are not good."

Cllr Berry agreed with the health select committee's concerns. "But it's not just Bradford," he said. "Other areas are also affected."

He said all agencies need to consider alternatives to fluoridation.

"The situation here is shocking," he said. "We need services close to where people live so a relationship with a dental practice can be established.

"We have to get across to parents the damage being done by poor dental hygiene and diet. But you have to meet people halfway and families with several children and no car can't travel several miles for check-ups too often."

"We need to change the way we deliver dental services. The message about maintaining good dental health has to get through.

"Let's stop pussy-footing around and talk about the consequences and that is an impact on other aspects of children's health."

The select committee inquiry was set up amid growing concerns about the high level of extractions.

Stephen Fayle, a consultant with the Leeds Dental Institute, told MPs: "I believe a shortage of paediatric dental specialists has led to an increase in tooth extractions among children."

On fluoridation, Dr Sandra White, of Public Health England, said: “It’s safe and effective – the cheapest way to get fluoride on to teeth.”