Children across Cumbria have some of the worst dental health in England, with one in three suffering from tooth decay by the age of five.

In some areas, almost 20 per cent of children under three have decay.

Carlisle, Barrow and Copeland are the districts with the worst dental health, though the picture is poor right across the county.

Excess sugar is one of the main factors being blamed for the shocking statistics, prompting the launch of a new awareness campaign.

A Sugar Smart initiative is being launched today in the county, aiming to educate people about the dangers of too many sweet foods.

Sugar is also contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic sweeping Cumbria, with one in three kids now overweight by the age of 11.

Again excessive sugar consumption is a major factor - prompting county health chiefs to take a strong but controversial stance against the Coca Cola truck's festive tour before Christmas.

Now they say the dental figures are further proof that sugar is causing long term health problems for children in Cumbria.

The statistics, the most recent published by Public Health England, are worst in Barrow, where more than half (56 per cent) of children have dental decay by the time they are 12, while in Carlisle and South Lakes it is 42 per cent and 43 per cent respectively.

One initiative aiming to improve dental health and tackle obesity in the county is launching today in north Cumbria, and has the backing of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

Sugar Smart Carlisle is a Carlisle Partnership initiative aiming to raise awareness of how much sugar we eat, and how to cut down. It sees public bodies team up with schools, sports clubs and community groups to reduce sugar intake and improve health.

Lee Sherriff, the city council's portfolio holder for communities, health and wellbeing, said she is very concerned about the levels of tooth decay and obesity among children across the area.

"This is about obesity and tooth decay. The statistics for tooth decay are a real worry. It's worse here than a lot of other places.

"I think this is a great opportunity to raise awareness. We are not telling people what to do. We're trying to give them an informed choice. By giving them all the information, all of the facts, they can then make up their own minds," she said.

"I don't think people realise that sugar can lead to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and all sorts of other issues.

"I also don't think people realise how much sugar is in some food and drink products. They often think low fat is better, but often they replace the fat with sugars for the taste. There are hidden sugars.

"A lot of people think they are making healthier choices, but they aren't. Look at Sunny Delight years ago when it was only available in Carlisle. People were coming from all over to Cumbria to get it. They thought that was healthy, but it was full of sugar."

Dental students in the area are also backing the Sugar Smart initiative, giving examples of some of the worst cases of tooth decay they have seen in local children. One recalled how she saw a mother in tears as her young child went into surgery to have several teeth removed. She had been giving him chocolate milk, thinking it was better than sugary juice or fizzy drinks, but didn't realise it was full of sugar.

It is stories like this that have highlighted the need to better educate parents, so they can make the right choices for their kids.

Anne Burns, county councillor for Hindpool in Barrow and a member of the Cumbria Health and Wellbeing Board, said in the south of the county they are working closely with children's centres to get information out to parents about healthy diets.

"We need to get the message across to parents that this isn't good for their children in the long run," she said.

"We are also trying to get supermarkets to move unhealthy foods out of children's eye level. Tesco are now putting pieces of fruit at the entrance for children. This is all part of what we are trying to achieve."

Miss Sherriff said that prior to the 1800s, refined sugar was not readily available in the UK. It was only as more sugar started to be imported that its price came down, and it became commonplace.

"So sugar isn't really a natural part of our diet. People think it is, but before the 1800s we didn't have it," she said.

She said the Sugar Smart initiative aims to educate children, and in turn their families, about how to choose better alternatives.

Miss Sherriff stressed that it is not about banning sugar or depriving people of treats. For example, she is supportive of a new national campaign that is urging parents to choose snacks with a maximum of 100 calories, twice a day, for their children.

She does however believe more needs to be done to cut the cost of healthy foods. "I do think it is a real problem for people on lower incomes. Cheaper food has got fillers in it and lots of sugar to make it taste better. That's why it can be more expensive to eat well.

"I do think that's an issue. The Government needs to be looking at ways to make it cheaper. There needs to be an incentive," she said.

Sugar Smart Carlisle is being launched at Carlisle College, where students have produced a hard-hitting video for the campaign.

Carlisle mayor Trish Vasey will present certificates to schools and community groups who have already made Sugar Smart pledges - including the college and the city's Newlaithes Infant and Belle Vue schools.

Julie Willows, headteacher at Newlaithes, said their young school councillors have been leading the way.

“Guided by staff, our school councillors have led this in school and they collected ideas from all children about how to be more sugar smart. They shared their ideas with children from other schools in Carlisle Schools Partnership at a recent joint school council meeting.

“The children's main concern was that they don't always know if something they eat or drink is sugar smart or not. They came up with the idea of using smiley faces that would easily show whether a food, drink or meal is sugar smart or just suitable for a treat."

Sugar Smart Carlisle has been organised by Food Carlisle Partnership and is funded by Sustainable Food Cities.

Organisations that have signed up include the council, Carlisle College, Carlisle Youth Council, Glenmore Trust, Phunkyfoods, MokyFit, iCan Health and Fitness, Cumberland FA and Barnardo’s.


Celebrity chef and children's healthy eating campaigner Jamie Oliver is backing the Sugar Smart Carlisle campaign.

He said: “It’s brilliant to have Carlisle join the national network of Sugar Smart campaigns. They’ll be joining us in raising awareness about the long-term damage too much sugar can have on our health, and empowering us all to reduce it in our diets.

"We're facing a growing obesity crisis where one in three children are leaving primary school either overweight or obese, seriously increasing their chances of developing diet-related diseases, like type 2 diabetes, earlier in adult life. Eating nutritious food and getting regular exercise will help us all lead healthier and happier lives.”


Sugar - the facts

  • 80 per cent of all foods contain added sugar
  • Many foods labelled as health contain hidden sugars
  • One 330ml can of classic Coca-Cola contains nine teaspoons of sugar
  • A 250ml bottle of Innocent Smoothie contains seven teaspoons of sugar
  • A 500ml bottle of Monster energy drink contains 14 sugar teaspoons
  • Prior to the 1800s refined sugar was not readily available in the UK
  • Too much sugar can lead to type 2 diabetes and heart disease
  • Sugar is the prime cause of dental decay in children
  • Tooth extraction is the main reason for hospital admission in children aged between five and nine
  • Some people eat as many as 40 teaspoons of sugar a day

Dental health in Cumbria

  • Barrow: Almost 42 per cent of children have dental decay by the time they are five, and 56 per cent by the time they are 12
  • Carlisle: 32 per cent of children have dental decay by the time they are five, and 42 per cent by the time they are 12
  • Copeland: 35 per cent of children have dental decay by the time they are five, and 30 per cent by the time they are 12
  • Eden: 29 per cent of children have dental decay by the time they are five, and almost 44 per cent by the time they are 12
  • Allerdale: 29 per cent of children have dental decay by the time they are five, and almost 27 per cent by the time they are 12
  • South Lakeland: Almost 22 per cent of children have dental decay by the time they are five, and almost 44 per cent by the time they are 12
  • Cumbria-wide: Cumbria has some of the worst rates of tooth decay in young children nationally. In some areas as many as 15 per cent of children have signs of tooth decay by the time they turn three.