Wales - ‘Some kids have never seen a toothbrush, let alone toothpaste’
‘Some kids have never seen a toothbrush, let alone toothpaste’
Mar 14 2008 by Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail
CHILDREN will be given lessons in how to brush their teeth properly.
The new Welsh Assembly Government scheme, which will be launched today, aims to address the nation’s appalling dental hygiene.
The lessons, to be rolled out in primary schools this year, will target three to five-year-olds with the worst teeth.
More than half of all five-year-old children in Wales have some tooth decay – rates are highest in deprived areas.
And experts told the Western Mail that some children in Wales have “never seen a toothbrush”.
But the British Dental Association said the scheme does not go far enough and children should also be taught how to use fluoridated mouthwashes properly.
The decision to teach children how to brush their teeth follows other Assembly Government stabs at playing parent, including providing free school breakfasts and attempts to ban smacking.
But Health Minister Edwina Hart defended the move, saying, “Rates of tooth decay in Wales are unacceptable for what is almost a totally preventable disease. Some of our children have some of the worst teeth in Europe.
“We need to reverse this trend if we are to meet our dental health and child poverty targets.
“Enhanced tooth-brushing schemes will provide children with the tools they need to develop and maintain good oral health from an early age.
“We intend to work towards every child being provided with free toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste.”
The enhanced tooth-brushing scheme, which will be launched today at Goetre Infant School, in Merthyr Tydfil, is one element of a three-pronged strategy to improve children’s oral health – it is also a major plank in Wales’ first national oral health action plan, backed by £4.6m of funding.
As part of the scheme, infant school children in the most deprived areas of Wales will be taught how to brush their teeth properly.
The lessons are expected to be taught during school time, by NHS trust and local health board staff with input from the community dental service.
The programme will initially be rolled out into selected regions – such as Flying Start areas – and focus on three to five-year-olds. It is expected this will be followed by a programme for six to 11-year-olds.
The latest tooth decay statistics reveal that oral health among five-year-olds is worse in deprived areas.
In Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil, children have an average of four decayed, missing and filled teeth by the time that are five, compared to less than two in areas such as Ceredigion and Monmouthshire.
Professor Ivor Chestnutt, professor and honorary consultant in dental public health at the Cardiff University School of Dentistry, said, “There is lots of evidence to show that regular tooth-brushing is crucial in securing good oral health.
“We know that for many children at greatest risk of dental decay, cleaning their teeth or having their teeth cleaned does not form part of their daily routine.
“The action plan announced today by the Health Minister is an important step in addressing oral health inequalities.
“It will help reduce the unacceptably high levels of tooth decay that persist in many areas in Wales.”
And Stuart Geddes director of the British Dental Association in Wales, said, “We need to educate young children about how to look after themselves and I would hope this scheme does not stop at simple tooth brushing.
“I would like to see it including mouth rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash.
“In the absence of water fluoridation, this is another way of getting fluoride into contact with teeth.
“If we can get a complete programme of oral health, which includes tooth brushing and mouth rinsing, that would be even better.
“I believe this is very much for the benefit of children, especially in the not-so-well-off areas of Wales where some of them have never seen a toothbrush, let alone toothpaste.”
Mrs Hart’s new oral action plan will also see community dental services strengthen to focus on the delivery of fluoride supplementation programmes and to improve care for children with chronic tooth decay.
And the Assembly Government will freeze dental patient charges for the second year running, to help maintain wider access to NHS dentistry
Mar 14 2008 by Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail
CHILDREN will be given lessons in how to brush their teeth properly.
The new Welsh Assembly Government scheme, which will be launched today, aims to address the nation’s appalling dental hygiene.
The lessons, to be rolled out in primary schools this year, will target three to five-year-olds with the worst teeth.
More than half of all five-year-old children in Wales have some tooth decay – rates are highest in deprived areas.
And experts told the Western Mail that some children in Wales have “never seen a toothbrush”.
But the British Dental Association said the scheme does not go far enough and children should also be taught how to use fluoridated mouthwashes properly.
The decision to teach children how to brush their teeth follows other Assembly Government stabs at playing parent, including providing free school breakfasts and attempts to ban smacking.
But Health Minister Edwina Hart defended the move, saying, “Rates of tooth decay in Wales are unacceptable for what is almost a totally preventable disease. Some of our children have some of the worst teeth in Europe.
“We need to reverse this trend if we are to meet our dental health and child poverty targets.
“Enhanced tooth-brushing schemes will provide children with the tools they need to develop and maintain good oral health from an early age.
“We intend to work towards every child being provided with free toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste.”
The enhanced tooth-brushing scheme, which will be launched today at Goetre Infant School, in Merthyr Tydfil, is one element of a three-pronged strategy to improve children’s oral health – it is also a major plank in Wales’ first national oral health action plan, backed by £4.6m of funding.
As part of the scheme, infant school children in the most deprived areas of Wales will be taught how to brush their teeth properly.
The lessons are expected to be taught during school time, by NHS trust and local health board staff with input from the community dental service.
The programme will initially be rolled out into selected regions – such as Flying Start areas – and focus on three to five-year-olds. It is expected this will be followed by a programme for six to 11-year-olds.
The latest tooth decay statistics reveal that oral health among five-year-olds is worse in deprived areas.
In Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil, children have an average of four decayed, missing and filled teeth by the time that are five, compared to less than two in areas such as Ceredigion and Monmouthshire.
Professor Ivor Chestnutt, professor and honorary consultant in dental public health at the Cardiff University School of Dentistry, said, “There is lots of evidence to show that regular tooth-brushing is crucial in securing good oral health.
“We know that for many children at greatest risk of dental decay, cleaning their teeth or having their teeth cleaned does not form part of their daily routine.
“The action plan announced today by the Health Minister is an important step in addressing oral health inequalities.
“It will help reduce the unacceptably high levels of tooth decay that persist in many areas in Wales.”
And Stuart Geddes director of the British Dental Association in Wales, said, “We need to educate young children about how to look after themselves and I would hope this scheme does not stop at simple tooth brushing.
“I would like to see it including mouth rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash.
“In the absence of water fluoridation, this is another way of getting fluoride into contact with teeth.
“If we can get a complete programme of oral health, which includes tooth brushing and mouth rinsing, that would be even better.
“I believe this is very much for the benefit of children, especially in the not-so-well-off areas of Wales where some of them have never seen a toothbrush, let alone toothpaste.”
Mrs Hart’s new oral action plan will also see community dental services strengthen to focus on the delivery of fluoride supplementation programmes and to improve care for children with chronic tooth decay.
And the Assembly Government will freeze dental patient charges for the second year running, to help maintain wider access to NHS dentistry
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