Dentists in Scotland take part in programme to boost children’s oral health
One hundred and fifty dentists are taking part in a new oral health programme, which is set to benefit hundreds of young children.
The scheme, which is running across the Lothians, has been set up by NHS Lothian, in conjunction with the Scottish government and will ensure every child that is born in the area has access to a dentist. Each baby will also be given a detailed dental care plan, which will help parents to look after their children’s teeth and get their children involved in oral health. The programme will focus on children aged between 0 and 4 years old.
Health chiefs in the area want to target young children so that they will learn how to look after their teeth and gums from a very early age; studies have shown that children who take good care of their teeth from an early age are much more likely to enjoy good oral health during their teenage years and throughout adulthood. Chiefs are trying to rebuff the current trends, which indicate that children are being affected by problems such as tooth decay and gum disease from an increasingly young age; many children, as young as two and three, are being admitted to hospital with severe decay and gum disease.
The new scheme, known as the Childsmile programme, will also provide children with fluoride varnish treatments, which help to strengthen and protect the teeth; children will receive the treatments every six months, as well as their regular routine check-ups. Childsmile nurseries and schools are already up and running and enjoying great success and health chiefs hope that the Childsmile programme will achieve similar results.
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