Nurseries Encouraged to Launch Brushing Schemes to Step Up Fight Against Decay
Nurseries across the UK have been encouraged to start teeth cleaning schemes to try and tackle soaring rates of dental decay.
In response to worrying figures related to child hospital admissions for dental treatment, NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) recommended brushing programmes in nurseries and schools across the country. Statistics showed that thousands of children, some as young as 2 and 3 years old, are being admitted to hospital for dental treatment under general anaesthesia every year.
Some nurseries in Scotland and Wales already run brushing programmes in line with government initiatives. However, it appears that England is lagging behind and although some private nurseries incorporate brushing, there is no national scheme.
Dr Sandra White, director of dental public health at Public Health England, said that childhood decay is a serious issue facing the UK, despite the fact that standards have increased significantly in the last forty years. Dr White added that oral health is something everyone should take responsibility for and adding brushing schemes in nurseries and schools could make a real difference to standards of oral health in the future.
Queensbrook Children’s Nursery in Bolton is one nursery that operates a brushing programme. Nursery staff decided to introduce the measures because some of the children were not brushing their teeth before coming to nursery and staff wanted to encourage good habits at an early age.
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