Hon. Quinton Edness declared yesterday at the official opening of Dental Health Week.

He claimed his Ministry's free fluoride programme, implemented in all public schools in the 1970s, had reduced cavities in children's mouths by a whopping 80 percent.

"That's the best rate in the world,'' he said. "And it indicates the programme is one of the Department's most successful.

"Bermuda's fluoride programme has been provided to our community without direct cost since 1978. It is important I think to continually remind parents, teachers and children of the tremendous benefits that public health programmes, such as the fluoride programme, bring to our community.

"I am also pleased to see the Health Department and the private dentists working together to improve the health of our community.

WINNING SMILE -- Paget Primary pupil Camille Masters, 9, winner of the Best Fluoride Smile photo contest, shows Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan and Health Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness how to brush up on their dental care during the official opening yesterday of Dental Health Week.