Could parents be putting their children’s oral health at risk?
New research has suggested that up to seven million children’s oral health is at risk because their parents are unaware of a highly effective preventative dental treatment, which is available free of charge on the NHS.
A survey conducted by mydentist revealed that 60% of parents do not know about the availability of fluoride varnish treatment. This is a preventative treatment which helps to protect the tooth enamel, and reduce the risk of tooth decay.
The survey also showed that around 30% of parents admit that they struggle to get their kids to brush their teeth twice a day, and 50% said that they help their children with brushing around twice a week, rather than every day. Around 25% of parents surveyed said that they buy gimmicks such as flavoured toothpaste and specially designed brushes to prevent arguing with their children when it comes to getting them to clean their teeth.
The clinical director of mydentist, Steve Williams, said that it is “shocking” that almost seven million children are missing out on a free treatment that is proven to decrease the risk of dental decay.
In response to the findings, mydentist is launching a national ‘Kids Club’ scheme to inform parents and children about NHS services and encourage them to adopt positive oral hygiene habits. The aim is to ensure that as many parents as possible know about fluoride varnish treatment, and to make sure that millions more children benefit from the service so that their oral health is improved.
