Suffolk Dental Scheme Making a Positive Difference to Children’s Oral Health
The introduction of a dental scheme has helped to contribute to better standards of oral health among children in Suffolk.
Last year, a new scheme to provide children with a free toothbrush and toothpaste was launched and experts believe that this, along with other public health measures, has helped to improve standards of dental health among the county’s children. As part of the scheme, all parents are presented with a free teeth cleaning pack at their child’s first annual check. The scheme is scheduled to run until 2020 and will benefit around 8,000 babies each year.
Tooth decay statistics make for gloomy reading in much of the UK, but Suffolk has a much lower rate than the national average. The latest figures show that 18.4 percent of children in Suffolk have signs of dental decay, compared to the national average of 27.9 percent. The figures relate to a period prior to the introduction of the dental packs, but Micheal Hattrell from the local council’s public health department believes that early indications show the packs have been a great success. Feedback from parents has been positive and the aim is to encourage good habits from an early age.
The positive news comes after the British Dental Association urged the Goverment to focus on preventative dental measures to stem a tide of decay among the nation’s children. Nationally, thousands of children are receiving treatment in hospital for preventable dental diseases. Focusing on prevention could help to reduce rates of decay significantly and decrease NHS spending on dental care for children.
Join this Discussion