Schools Urged To Supervise Brushing Of Teeth

Schools and nurseries should help children to brush their teeth, according to England's health watchdog.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has urged local authorities to tackle a growing crisis in the state of people's teeth in disadvantaged areas of England.

Tooth decay and gum disease are the two most common, largely preventable dental problems, said NICE.

The young and the vulnerable are said to be most at risk so new advice on how to tackle the problem is being issued.

In new and wide-ranging guidance, NICE said parents and children in many areas need support to stop tooth decay and diseases linked to poor oral hygiene.

Severe tooth decay has been reported in children as young as three and in many cases is starting much earlier.

NICE suggests local authorities consider supervised tooth-brushing and fluoride varnishing programmes in nurseries and primary schools in areas where children are at high risk of poor oral health.

Professor Mike Kelly, director of the Centre for Public Health at NICE, said: "Children as young as three are being condemned to a life with rotten teeth, gum disease and poor health going into adulthood.

"Many children have poor diets and poor mouth hygiene because there is misunderstanding about the importance of looking after children's early milk teeth and gums.

"They eat too much sugar and don't clean their teeth with fluoride toothpaste.

"As a society we should help parents and carers give their children the best start in life and act now to stop the rot before it starts."

In Salford, Greater Manchester, rates of infant tooth decay are among the highest in the country.

The Health Protection Agency had begun a series of pilots in nurseries to make sure that children brush their teeth.

Laura Shingler, a nursery practicioner at Kidz 'r Us, is in charge of toothbrushing sessions.

She said: "I have seen children as young as three with rotten teeth through eating too many sweets and lack of brushing. Here we start brushing as soon as they get teeth.

"It's about getting them in the habit of daily brushing.

"If parents arent doing it, we'll make sure it's done."

Mandy Murdoch, an independent health strategist with experience of commissioning oral health promotion programmes, said: "Unfortunately, many people believe that the health of a child's first teeth does not matter as 'they will fall out anyway'.

"However, severe tooth decay at a young age can have negative consequences in later life."