The state of our children's teeth is one of the worst public health problems facing the Bradford district and one about which something needs to be done as quickly as possible.

A national survey has shown that Bradford's three-year-olds have some of the worst dental health in the country and incidence of decay, fillings and even extracted and missing teeth is way above the country's average.

Oral health is not just about having a nice smile, though of course the confidence of people of all ages can be badly hit if they have lots of dental problems.

Problems with teeth can lead to other medical issues and affect our general well-being, and can be the source of much more serious problems.

It is right that Bradford Public Health is putting this high on the agenda. A programme of education of both children and parents needs to be a starting point, both in terms of regular cleaning and avoiding food and drink with high sugar content.

But this is one of those issues that can only really be solved by parents and guardians. Unless it is drummed into children as soon as they develop teeth that they must care for them, the message will not be carried through to later life.

Any parent or guardian has a duty to ensure that their children are brushing properly and avoiding sugary treats, especially drinks, both for our children's long-term health and to prevent a ticking financial timebomb exploding in our health service further down the line.

Pester power might be hard to ignore, especially in the face of advertising and shop displays, but it's easier to say no now than explain to a child why they must have a tooth removed.