The state of kids' teeth in the country's poorest regions isn't getting any better, and there are warnings that more has to be done if real gains are to be made.
The latest figures from the Ministry of Health show that nationally, 40 percent of five-year-olds who got dental check-ups last year, had some form of tooth decay.
But the numbers are even worse for children in some of the poorest regions such as Northland, Tairawhiti and Counties-Manukau.
Listen to the audio above and read the full report here.
