Toothbrush Give-away Set For Suffolk Five Year Olds
A recent report in Suffolk highlights the need for greater dental care for children aged five. The report found a distinction between various regions in Suffolk and the level of dental care provided to children, with some areas showing almost twice as many cases of tooth decay amongst five year olds.
Suffolk County Council has begun to make steps to combat the problem with a Suffolk wide toothbrush, toothpaste giveaway scheme beginning in January. Parents will also be encouraged with information on healthy eating to prevent dental caries. This will be provided during their child’s eight-monthly health check.
The East of England is said to have a dental decay rate of 23% in five year old patients. A survey in 2012 found that children of the same age in Mid Suffolk had a 14.9% dental decay rate compared to that of Waveney which reached 21.9%.
The British Dental Association believes this report shows evidence of a persistent correlation between children’s social economic background and the level of oral care they are provided with. Poor diet and the lack of toothbrushes provided are seen as a fundamental reason for the higher instances of tooth decay in Suffolk children.
The health service, Live Well Suffolk started a campaign earlier this year which highlighted the dangers of a high fructose sugar diet and its damaging affect on a child’s immediate and long term health.
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