Caused by the acids found in everyday food and drinks, such as fizzy and soft drinks and fruit, the condition can lead to the erosion of teeth and – over time – could affect their appearance.

Acid erosion is a growing problem in children with up to 30 per cent of 12-year-olds and up to 53 per cent of five-year olds exhibiting tooth surface loss. Further research by Sensodyne shows that while 94 per cent of British parents know that acidic foods and drinks can damage their children's teeth, the reality is that many do not understand which items are acidic.


Water can fight off diseases

Drinking enough water can help people of all ages to ward off arthritis and other chronic conditions, according to The Arthritic Association.

Baroness Greengross, founder of the charity Action on Elder Abuse, has called for a set of minimum standards on hydration across the UK. However, it's not just the elderly who should drink more water. According to arthritis pioneer Charles de Coti-Marsh, we could all stay a lot healthier for longer if we looked after our gut, and staying hydrated is the first step to keeping your body functioning properly.


Share memories of childbirth

Oxfam and parenting website mumsnet.com have launched a new initiative to document memories of childbirth in the UK before access to healthcare became universal.

The call for memories is part of Oxfam's campaign to help reduce the number of women who die needlessly in pregnancy and childbirth, which involves campaigners throughout the UK knitting 9-inch squares for a giant baby blanket, with each knitted square representing a mother who did not survive pregnancy or childbirth to be able to care for her baby. The giant blanket will be handed over to the UK Government just before world leaders meet in New York to discuss progress on the Millennium Development Goals, aimed at halving world poverty by 2015.

It will represent a demand to global leaders to act now to ensure that everyone in the world has access to free basic healthcare.

n To contribute a story about childbirth in the UK before the NHS please contact Sarah Blakemore on 0113 3944293/0778660496, at sblakemore@oxfam.org.uk or send them to Oxfam Campaigns, 47 Park Square East, Leeds, LS1 2NL.