MORE than half of all children in Glasgow's East End have rotten teeth by the time they start school - compared with 30% in the Borders - but it's not all bad news.

The statistic comes as health chiefs and the city council battle to improve the dental health of youngsters.

Health bosses say the decay figure is down from nearly 75% of East End school starters just three years ago.

The "Smile Too" campaign to encourage tooth brushing and healthy eating for pre-school children, has reduced the number of East End P1 pupils classed as having decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT).

The decay figure is down from 73% in 2006 to 57% last year. The figure across the whole of Glasgow is 46%.

But health chiefs say there's still work to be done.

Councillor James Coleman, chairman of East Glasgow Community Health and Care Partnership, said: "We've put in a huge effort to turn around dental health in the East and it looks like it's beginning to pay off.

"Big strides have been taken over the past couple of years, but nobody's getting complacent. We are now heading in the right direction."

There are now 3788 children taking part in the Smile Too scheme in 72 council-run and private partnership nurseries in the East End, and there are even plans to extend the programme to involve newborn babies.

Councillor Coleman added: "The nursery schools are right on board and that's where the difference will be made in the long run.

"If we get the children when they are young then they will learn good habits that last them a lifetime."

Peter Kelly, of the Poverty Alliance, says there is a link between parental low income and poor dental health.

Mr Kelly said: "There's a lot of work being done in Glasgow to try and break the link but living on a low income does often come hand in hand with poor health.

"Very often parents know what it is that they should be doing, but there are still very real financial barriers preventing people making those choices.

"A lot of the cheaper foods, for example, have higher sugar contents and when people are just getting by on a low income then it can become difficult for parents."

Louise McCarthy, a community nursery nurse who works with 37 nurseries across the East End, said tooth decay is a major problem.

"The worst thing that can happen is that a child has to be sedated under general anaesthetic and have their teeth taken out. It's every parent's nightmare."

Janet Tobin, a health improvement leader for East Glasgow Community Health and Care Partnership, said parents play a crucial role.

She added: "It's important to establish a good foundation for parents and children to get off to the right start from as early as possible.

"There are lots of ways parents can get involved with their children's oral health.

"Breastfeeding has a huge impact on the dental health of children, so we're trying to support that.

"There are also things like reducing fizzy drinks and trying to get the message out that there really is no safe drink for children apart from milk and water.

"It is difficult to change the culture of drinking fizzy drinks but it's important - as is encouraging people to get kids registered with a dentist from an early age.

"We live in the real world, and are not saying all sweets are bad. Parents tell us their kids want fizzy drinks because all their friends drink them. We've got to be realistic and say try and limit juice to meal times, try and dilute it."

The government has set a national target to have 60% of P1s with no DMFT by 2010.

While that may seem a tall order, the improvements in the East End are being held up by campaigners as evidence that things are heading in the right direction. Get children started from an early age Tooth decay is a growing problem THE latest advice from the British Dental Association is that it is never too early to introduce kids to a toothbrush.

They say that as soon as teeth start to come through, parents should start a brushing routine. Special brushes are available for babies and dentists recommend parents use fluoride toothpaste.

For children up to the age of three parents should use a smear of toothpaste and for three to six-year-olds a pea-sized blob.

Dentists will be happy to offer advice on how best to brush youngsters' teeth and they say it's best to get kids used to going to the dentist from an early age.

Remember, children are treated for free under the NHS.

The BDA say eating a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is crucial.

And while they concede that getting them to give fizzy, sugary drinks a miss might be tricky, it is well worth it.

They recommend trying to stick to water and milk, especially between meals, and replace sweets and crisps with pieces of fruit.