Blackpool Dental Milk For Shcools Plan On Hold
Plans to provide fluoridated milk to schoolchildren in Blackpool have been put on hold, after a study revealed that the dental milk contained slightly higher levels of the mineral than anticipated.
Dr Arif Rajpura, director of public health in Blackpool, confirmed that councillors had agreed to delay the scheme at a meeting on Monday evening, after a study conducted in Newcastle revealed that the level of fluoride was slightly higher than first thought. Public Health England has now requested that councils considering the new scheme wait for the outcome of further research.
Dr Rajpura confirmed that the panel will await the findings and then make a decision of the programme, which is designed to reduce rates of decay among the town’s children by adding fluoridated milk to their free breakfasts. Fluoride helps to strengthen the tooth enamel.
Public Health England is expected to public the findings of the study later this week and then councils will be able to decide whether or not to press on with the scheme.
Councillors are working with schools, parents and local health bodies to try and tackle poor standards of oral health in the area. Recent results show that rates of decay among children are among the worst in the country.
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