Brushing programmes in schools recommended to improve oral health
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended that supervised brushing schemes should take place in schools in an attempt to improve standards of oral health for children.
According to watchdog’s representatives, schools should teach children how to brush their teeth and supervise brushing at school to try and tackle the increasing rates of severe cases of decay. Supervised brushing schemes ensure that children brush their teeth frequently, and aid children who perhaps don’t have the support or encouragement at home.
Studies have revealed that a quarter of five year olds show signs of dental decay, and dentists all over the country have reported an increase in the number of children who require hospital treatment for decay.
New guidelines suggest that brushing schemes should be encouraged in nurseries, schools, and children’s centres in areas where rates of decay are high. At the moment, dental decay is the most common reason for young children to be admitted to hospital.
The latest statistics show that a quarter of children have “obvious signs of decay”; the average five-year-old has more than three decayed, filled or missing teeth.
NICE’s deputy executive, Gillian Leng, said that good oral hygiene reduces the risk of dental cavities significantly, and partnerships between schools and local authorities could help to prevent children from developing tooth decay. In the past, NICE stated that many parents thought tooth brushing was “trivial”, causing children to grow up thinking that it’s not important to brush their teeth. Education at school about such misconceptions can help to plug gaps in their oral health knowledge and provide children with the information they need to make positive choices in the future.
