UK - Getting our teeth into the debate
Getting our teeth into the debate
There can be no escape from people promoting healthy eating, looking after our bodies and cutting down on our intakes of salt, sugar, fats and alcohol.
Healthy food is promoted in schools, on TV, in newspapers and magazines. We've all learned the five-a-day fruit and vegetable mantra and know that sugary drinks are bad for us.
Which makes it all the more staggering to discover that our children's teeth here in Calderdale are among the worst in the country.
Much has been said to criticise the way NHS dentistry (or rather the lack of it) has left many people with a choice of paying for private dental treatment or not getting it at all.
Children still receive, at least on paper, free dental check ups and treatment. Perhaps the root of the problem lies not in what our children are eating and drinking but in the lack of dental services available. But they will not be getting any checkups if all the NHS dentists lists are full and their waiting lists growing ever longer.
To look on the positive side the findings of the Health and Social Care scrutiny committee have to be welcomed. Having identified that there is a problem is the first step towards finding a solution.
Of course the true extent of the problem might not yet have come to light. If there are children not regularly visiting a dentist the state of their teeth will not even register in the findings. All the more reason for a wide section of the public to be encouraged to take part in this research.
It can be said that prevention is better than cure. Keeping the message going about healthy eating to look after our teeth and gums and cleaning our teeth after meals would be a start.But how many schoolchildren are encouraged to take a toothbrush to school and have time and facilities to brush after lunch?
Of course, as local councillor Bob Metcalfe says, they will not be able to carry out a full investigation without touching on the tricky issue of adding fluoride to the water.The suggestion will undoubtedly cause concern and generate some heated debate. Whenever public health, and particularly the health of children, is involved people have very emotive responses.
Last time it was suggested the debate was hijacked by some extremely vocal lobbyists.
It is essential the committee's discussions are not taken over by this single issue. All the other possible reasons for poor oral health and all potential measures for prevention and cure must be fully explored alongside that of putting flouride in the water.And that means with informed debate, proper analysis of facts and sound medical evidence.
Last Updated: 02 January 2007
"people have very emotive responses." Why shouldn't we, is that wrong?
You can comment on the report in the newspaper
There can be no escape from people promoting healthy eating, looking after our bodies and cutting down on our intakes of salt, sugar, fats and alcohol.
Healthy food is promoted in schools, on TV, in newspapers and magazines. We've all learned the five-a-day fruit and vegetable mantra and know that sugary drinks are bad for us.
Which makes it all the more staggering to discover that our children's teeth here in Calderdale are among the worst in the country.
Much has been said to criticise the way NHS dentistry (or rather the lack of it) has left many people with a choice of paying for private dental treatment or not getting it at all.
Children still receive, at least on paper, free dental check ups and treatment. Perhaps the root of the problem lies not in what our children are eating and drinking but in the lack of dental services available. But they will not be getting any checkups if all the NHS dentists lists are full and their waiting lists growing ever longer.
To look on the positive side the findings of the Health and Social Care scrutiny committee have to be welcomed. Having identified that there is a problem is the first step towards finding a solution.
Of course the true extent of the problem might not yet have come to light. If there are children not regularly visiting a dentist the state of their teeth will not even register in the findings. All the more reason for a wide section of the public to be encouraged to take part in this research.
It can be said that prevention is better than cure. Keeping the message going about healthy eating to look after our teeth and gums and cleaning our teeth after meals would be a start.But how many schoolchildren are encouraged to take a toothbrush to school and have time and facilities to brush after lunch?
Of course, as local councillor Bob Metcalfe says, they will not be able to carry out a full investigation without touching on the tricky issue of adding fluoride to the water.The suggestion will undoubtedly cause concern and generate some heated debate. Whenever public health, and particularly the health of children, is involved people have very emotive responses.
Last time it was suggested the debate was hijacked by some extremely vocal lobbyists.
It is essential the committee's discussions are not taken over by this single issue. All the other possible reasons for poor oral health and all potential measures for prevention and cure must be fully explored alongside that of putting flouride in the water.And that means with informed debate, proper analysis of facts and sound medical evidence.
Last Updated: 02 January 2007
"people have very emotive responses." Why shouldn't we, is that wrong?
You can comment on the report in the newspaper
posted by Bill at
10:38 AM
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