WE have another report about the bad dental record of children in the area (LET, July 22) and out jumps the pro-fluoridation lobby.

Why is it that all the reports about the dangers to young children's teeth of mothers putting fruit juices and added sugar in their child's feeding bottle are not given the same publicity?

A lot of child tooth decay could be prevented by the simple process of teaching them to rinse their mouths out with plain water after every meal. Sweets and snacks count as a meal.

It is fruit acids and sugars that cause the damage and no amount of fluoride will prevent the damage. Only good oral hygiene can do that. Most of the damage is done before the child reaches three years of age.

In order to determine the long-term effects of fluoridation, can the people who quote the towns where it is added tell us if there has been any increase in the instances of brittle bone disease or bone fractures in the elderly population?

The only real solution to dental decay lies in the educating of parents and children in good dental hygiene and not 'quick fix' solutions like fluoridation. Maybe the money would be better spent on sending qualified dentists round infant and junior schools on a regular basis as this would reach those children whose parents fail to take their offspring for regular check-ups. Also by the child meeting the dentist in a familiar situation and with their friends, it would remove their fear of him in later life. Who knows this might even lead to fewer people needing false teeth.

L LAWES, Bold Street, Blackburn.