STUDY FINDS MANY ELECTRIC BRUSHES NOT EFFECTIVE

BRITAIN'S leading oral health charity has warned consumers to be cautious when choosing expensive electric toothbrushes after scientists found that many of them are no more effective than ordinary manual brushes.

The British Dental Health Foundation was speaking after the Cochrane Review 2005 found that many consumers are paying extra for the same performance. The news comes after the Foundation's own National Dental Survey 2005, completed last week, found that nearly 50% of people now use an electric toothbrush.

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, commented:- "Nationwide, millions of people are going out and buying electric toothbrushes because they assume that they will be better for their teeth - but this isn't always the case. The only brushes to genuinely offer improved performance are rotating oscillating brushes. These have small circular heads that rotate in opposite directions and can help reduce plaque by around 11%. However, other electric brushes are much less effective. In fact you can get just as good results using a manual brush as you can using an expensive sonic toothbrush - so think twice before you go spending your money!"

The Foundation's advice came in the build-up to National Smile Week (May 15-21), the biggest oral health campaign in the country. National Smile Week aims to provide good oral health information to as many people as possible.

This year's tagline of 'Talking Teeth' is all about encouraging people to pass oral health information on to those around them.

The Foundation has created '7 tips for 7 days' as a one-stop guide to good oral health. These are:-

1. Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
2. Change your toothbrush every 2-3 months
3. Cut down on the frequency of sugary foods and drinks
4. Visit your dentist regularly
5. Floss at least once-a-day
6. Chew sugar-free gum after meals
7. Be aware of your mouth

For free oral health advice from a team of experts contact the British Dental Health Foundation's Dental Helpline on 0845 063 1188.

Record April sees 29% passenger growth at Liverpool John Lennon Airport

PASSENGER figures out today show a dramatic increase in numbers traveling through Liverpool John Lennon Airport during April 2005 compared to the same period last year. Over 331,000 passengers travelled through the Airport for the period, - an increase of over 29% with an additional 75,000 Airport users.

This year on year comparison is the largest monthly increase since April 2003 and is as a result of an additional 22 new services that have commenced over the past 12 months, 13 of which started this year alone. In particular, Ryanair's decision in November last year, to make Liverpool one of its key European bases, has seen the operator start flights to 11 new services in recent months to destinations such as, Rome, Milan, Venice, Pisa, Granada, Cork and others, whilst the Airport's newest operator Flybe have already added Liverpool flights to Belfast City, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Jersey with services to Southampton and Exeter starting soon.

Liverpool is currently one of the UK's fastest growing airports and to highlight the rapid growth in business; when owners Peel Holdings acquired the Airport Company in 1997 passenger throughput for the whole year was just over twice what the Airport currently handles in a month. By Summer 2005 the Airport will have regular services to 40 scheduled destinations in the UK and Europe compared to 1997, when there were just
3.

Robin Tudor, Corporate Affairs Manager for Liverpool John Lennon Airport commented, "This is once again a period of rapid expansion for the Airport with the range of new services bringing a significant increase in April's passenger numbers. This is particularly impressive when you realise that these figures don't even benefit from the busy Easter Holiday period, unlike the April 2004 figure. We expect to see a similar high level of passenger growth over the coming months as the annual passenger throughput breaks the 4 million mark for the first time and Liverpool continues to be the region's leading airport for low cost services."

PLAN YOUR WAY ROUND THE UK FOR FREE

PUBLIC transport travel information available for the UK instantly. Planajourney integrates Air, Rail, Ferry, London Underground and Dockland Light Railway travel information. 

The UK's fast, accurate and comprehensive public transport travel planning tool is now available free online with the launch of www.planajourney.com. This provides a fully integrated, strategic and impartial journey planning service to the British public for UK Air, Rail, Coach, Ferry, London Underground and Docklands Light Railway services, which is not available anywhere else. 

JourneyPlan, already acknowledged as a leading world developer of technology solutions for Passenger Transport Information, has launched this revolutionary service.

The company's technology forms the backbone to some of the UK's most successful timetabled passenger information services including Traveline Scotland, Translink (Northern Ireland) and NETIS (North of England Transport Information System).

Users simply enter the departure and arrival points and when they want to travel. The system instantly responds with a choice of detailed itineraries including stops and any transfers required. Users can also select any preference for mode of transport. The route offered is always optimal showing the fastest routing and also the least number of changes.

"Nobody anywhere in the world has built such a comprehensive system for the UK. We believe this is the fastest, most reliable and accurate journey planning tool available for the UK. We have achieved this through integrating timetable information using highly sophisticated database and search technology, developed by us to provide the most comprehensive and powerful search capability available.

We invite the public to try our free site which we are confident they will find indispensable for planning a journey. Our aim is to make it as simple and easy as possible for the travelling public to access travel information wherever they are. We will be extending the service into the mobile world soon." said Mac Logan, CEO, JourneyPlan Limited. 

JourneyPlan has also developed a wide range of additional products and services to make life easier for the traveller and commuter. These include:-

o Point2Point Planner, the ultimate journey planning tool includes integrated information for national rail, air, coach, ferry, London and Glasgow Underground networks. Will run on PCs or laptops and Pocket PCs. Monthly updates are available via JourneyPlan's secure server.

o A UK Rail Planner which can be installed on a Pocket PC, laptop or PC. This covers the entire UK Rail with the London Underground network. Monthly updates (including notified works) ensure up-to-date information.

o UK Rail Only planner: information optimised for use with Palm Pliots.

o Mobile services including text, WAP and mobile Internet will be available shortly.

Details of all these products and services can be found at www.planajourney.com

MedEquip4Kids Charity Cycle Ride

THE Children’s charity MedEquip4Kids are organising a 40 mile bike ride between Manchester and Liverpool on 19 June 2005 and are looking for volunteers with pedal power to join them. The route will be fully marshalled along the mainly traffic free route which takes in part of the picturesque Trans Pennine Trail.

 MedEquip4Kids is a North West based Children’s Charity which is dedicated to helping children in and out of hospital. MedEquip4Kids aims to improve the health care of babies and children by providing equipment and facilities to aid their recovery. MedEquip4Kids works very closely with local hospitals and agencies across the region. The sponsored event will be fully marshalled, with first aid and refreshments available on route. 

If you would like to join MedEquip4Kids in the is brand new bike ride please call the Appeals office on 0161 798 1600 for a registration form or visit www.medequip4kids.org.uk