Health directors reveal plans for supervised brushing programmes for children in Suffolk and Essex
Health directors have revealed plans to introduce supervised brushing programmes for children in Suffolk and Essex.
The Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board has put plans forward as part of a £2.8 million project to boost oral health in the region. The two counties will receive funding from March 31st. One of the key strategies is to provide money for schools and nurseries to run supervised brushing programmes to make sure young children clean their teeth at least once a day. The brushing schemes will involve children aged between two and eight years old.
In addition to brushing programmes in schools and early years settings, there will also be funding for additional measures to improve standards of dental health. Funding worth £966,514 will be given to Suffolk County Council to provide supervised brushing for two years, community fluoride varnishing schemes and Keep Suffolk Smiling oral health kits to deprived and vulnerable communities over the next five years.
In North East Essex, over £320,000 will be awarded to Essex County Council to fund supervised brushing programmes and oral health education and training. The money has come from NHS England.
Dental access is a major issue in Suffolk and Essex. Peter Aldous, the Conservative MP for Waveney, described Suffolk as a “dental desert” and has campaigned tirelessly for better dental services for over a year along with Labour MP, Judith Cummins. Research suggests that 56% of new patients in Waveney are struggling to find an NHS dentist.
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