A national programme aimed at three- to five-year-olds will see school and nursery staff supervise children while they brush their teeth.
The new scheme will deliver funding to early years and primary school settings in the most deprived areas in order to tackle the ‘children’s oral health crisis’.
Children aged between five and nine are most commonly admitted to hospital in order to receive treatment for decayed teeth, according to the Department of Health and Social Care. Additionally, one in three five-year-olds in the most deprived areas of England have experienced tooth decay.
The government are launching the scheme in collaboration with Colgate-Palmolive, who are donating 23 million toothbrushes and toothpastes over the next five years. They will also provide educational materials and a ‘public-facing’ children’s oral health campaign in support of the NHS.
‘We’re already rolling out 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments for those who need treatment,’ said health minister Stephen Kinnock, ‘but by focusing on prevention we can help children have the best start in life.’
The new rollout in England is expected to save money on hospital admissions, which costs the NHS around £1600 per person.
Chief dental officer for England Jason Wong said he is ‘thrilled’ the government and NHS are working together on the ‘pivotal’ scheme:
‘Toothbrushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste remains one of the best defences against tooth decay and a long list of preventable oral health issues […] Having strong healthy teeth can have a hugely positive impact on a child’s life.’
National supervised toothbrushing programmes are already in place in Scotland and Wales. While in Northern Ireland, there is a targeted programme for pre-school children in the 20% most deprived areas.
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