Portsmouth kids to get teeth ‘varnished′

Portsmouth children are to have their teeth varnished because of the poor standard of oral health in the region.

Health officials are launching this pilot project in three of the city’s schools because figures have revealed that kids from Portsmouth have one of the poorest dental health records in the South East.

With parental consent, pupils’ teeth are to be painted with varnish between two and four times a year to ensure their teeth stay healthy. 

Ukagainstflouride reported that Louise Bevan, public health development manager for NHS Portsmouth, is excited about the scheme – believing fluoride to be as effective as toothbrushing.

Bevan said: “The advantage of fluoride varnish is that once it is on it is fixed. It is very easy to apply, completely painless and could be effective in supporting those most at risk.

“We know it can be effective but we need to know whether it’s practical to deliver and acceptable to Portsmouth people.”

Should this project be a success in the test schools then all the schools in Portsmouth will undertake it.

Children from Portsmouth currently “have an average of 1.8 decayed or rotten teeth by the age of five” and students at two thirds of the city’s schools “have more missing or rotten teeth than the national average” when they begin primary school.

Kids from around the Somers Road area in Southsea, have the worst dental health in the region. Pupils in this area “have an average of 4.2 missing, decayed, filled or treated teeth” when they begin their education in the reception class. 

To accompany the scheme parents are also being urged to encourage their children to eat healthy foods, brush their teeth morning and evening and make regular visits to the dentist.

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