England - School pupils to get lessons on brushing their teeth from dentists
Dentists are having to go into Lincolnshire schools to teach children how to brush their teeth.
They are being sent in after the revelation by Lincolnshire Community Health that more than 300 children across the county had to be put under general anaesthetic last year to have rotten teeth removed.
Teachers, dentists and community health services are working to educate parents and children against all the dangers that can lead to that stage.
Senior specialist dental nurse Emma Fletcher said: "It's very shocking. General anaesthetic is something we want to avoid especially in children for something that is a preventable disease."
Dentists only put children under anaesthetic as a last resort but fear parents aren't aware of the dangers of problems reaching that stage.
Twenty independent dental practices have now signed up to 'adopt' and visit a school in their area so far including Lincoln, Sleaford, Boston, Horncastle and Grantham.The dental team delivers a Better Oral Health workshop and set up racks for toothbrushes and a system for reception children to learn how to brush their teeth.She explained that children from the age of six can use adult toothpaste which should contain a fluoride level of 1,450 parts per million.Emma Fletcher said: "A lot of children don't like minty toothpaste. They complain they won't use it because it's minty."Supermarkets particularly do offer flavoured toothpastes and as long as they contain the 1,450 ppm of fluoride that's absolutely fine."It's especially important for these children that their brushing and their diet is up to scratch as they're probably more at risk.
Gina Hargrave, from the Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, said: "This is a great way for children and their parents to understand how brushing teeth every day with a fluoride toothpaste helps to protect teeth from tooth decay."Prevention is so much better than cure. Working together with parents, schools and local dental practices we can make sure that children in Lincolnshire have something to smile about."She is now training dental staff on how to promote oral health to five year olds as part of the scheme.
Charlotte Hickerton, head teacher at St Peter at Gowts Primary School in Lincoln said: "The project is a fantastic idea to promote kids' dental hygiene amongst our children and families."We think it will benefit the children so much by starting this routine so early on in their reception class."It's going to be very easy, just five minutes a day after they have had their dinner, then hopefully they'll set up that routine for the rest of their lives."
They are being sent in after the revelation by Lincolnshire Community Health that more than 300 children across the county had to be put under general anaesthetic last year to have rotten teeth removed.Teachers, dentists and community health services are working to educate parents and children against all the dangers that can lead to that stage.
Senior specialist dental nurse Emma Fletcher said: "It's very shocking. General anaesthetic is something we want to avoid especially in children for something that is a preventable disease."
Dentists only put children under anaesthetic as a last resort but fear parents aren't aware of the dangers of problems reaching that stage.
Twenty independent dental practices have now signed up to 'adopt' and visit a school in their area so far including Lincoln, Sleaford, Boston, Horncastle and Grantham.The dental team delivers a Better Oral Health workshop and set up racks for toothbrushes and a system for reception children to learn how to brush their teeth.She explained that children from the age of six can use adult toothpaste which should contain a fluoride level of 1,450 parts per million.Emma Fletcher said: "A lot of children don't like minty toothpaste. They complain they won't use it because it's minty."Supermarkets particularly do offer flavoured toothpastes and as long as they contain the 1,450 ppm of fluoride that's absolutely fine."It's especially important for these children that their brushing and their diet is up to scratch as they're probably more at risk.
Gina Hargrave, from the Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, said: "This is a great way for children and their parents to understand how brushing teeth every day with a fluoride toothpaste helps to protect teeth from tooth decay."Prevention is so much better than cure. Working together with parents, schools and local dental practices we can make sure that children in Lincolnshire have something to smile about."She is now training dental staff on how to promote oral health to five year olds as part of the scheme.
Charlotte Hickerton, head teacher at St Peter at Gowts Primary School in Lincoln said: "The project is a fantastic idea to promote kids' dental hygiene amongst our children and families."We think it will benefit the children so much by starting this routine so early on in their reception class."It's going to be very easy, just five minutes a day after they have had their dinner, then hopefully they'll set up that routine for the rest of their lives."
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