Childsmile programme finally reaches West Dunbartonshire
Dentists in West Dunbartonshire have finally launched the national Childsmile programme.
The government funded programme, which aims to improve oral health amongst children, was first launched in 2008, but the scheme has only just reached West Dunbartonshire. The Childsmile programme aims to improve access to dental services, educate children about the importance of good oral health and encouraging them to maintain high standards of oral health.
Local dentist, Gyhll McCallum, from the Levengrove Dental Care practice, said that the programme will make a huge difference to children in West Dunbartonshire. The practice is looking forward to helping to get children involved in oral health and encouraging them to adopt good oral hygiene habits. The practice will now work alongside families in the area to teach them about oral hygiene and oral health and encourage them to attend regular dental check-ups.
Shona Robinson, the Minister for Public Health, said that the programme has already made a significant difference to children’s oral health, especially in deprived areas, where standards of oral health were very low. Recent figures show that rates of decay are lower than ever before and registration numbers have increased.
The Childsmile Core programme provides every child with a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste and an information booklet containing tips on brushing and information about oral health and oral hygiene. All nursery school children are also offered supervised brushing on a daily basis and parents who do not have a dentist are offered assistance in finding an NHS dental practice.
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