1st June 2018
NHS England is calling on dentists to see an additional 70,000 pre-school children as part of a drive in the health service’s 70th year, to help young families to get into the habit of good dental health.
Dr Cheryll Adams CBE, Executive Director iHV, commented: “The Institute is delighted to hear of this initiative and calls on health visitors and their teams to alert parents to it. Health visitors promote good oral hygiene and early visits to the dentist for infants on their caseloads.”
Latest data show that over 140 children per day, some just one year old, are having decayed teeth removed. These are now being tackled head on with a newly launched awareness programme supporting 24,000 dentists across England to see more children from a young age.
Good dental health habits can be formed by booking a baby’s first dental check by their first birthday, stopping the rot before it starts and preventing the need for future tooth extractions.
As part of the Starting Well Core programme, the Chief Dental Officer for England, Sara Hurley, is also encouraging parents and carers to take advantage of extra access opportunities at their local dental practice and obtaining free NHS dental care.
