Teeth cleaning to be taught in nurseries and schools

eazybee I am inclined to agree.

Toothbrushes can be bought cheaply and it is the brushing technique that matters more than products. They have to start young.

But we have all read about “dental deserts” in this nation whereby even children are now unable to be registered for treatment. This is a new low.

Further more too many of the dentists still offering treatment to some NHS patients- almost as a favour it seems (perhaps one day a week) are taking the @#££.

In and out of the chair in less than a minute for a checkup kerching! Time is money.

I remember when we were told to clean our children's teeth from when they got their first teeth then brush for them for several years (at least 6) at the same time to start teaching them how to brush themselves.

There's as much calcium (if not more) in low fat milk as full fat.

You have forgotten free breakfast clubs and free school meals for all. Only leaves tea, and possibly a baby sitting service to be provided.

I thought that maternal diet during pregnancy could have a determining effect on healthy teeth or otherwise. The trend against full-fat milk could have something to do with it. I now think that my children when young cleaned their teeth rather sketchily but they didn’t have these problems.

There was a time when the way funding for dentists worked actually enabled them to provide Preventative Dental Units to teach children effective teeth cleaning.

there children=their children

Most importantly, teaching parents how to teach their children how to brush their teeth, and how to supervise them while they do it.
We’ve done teeth care sessions in school for ages, but if it’s not supervised at home, the value of that is limited.
Reading posts on here, not everyone knows the correct way to brush, so presumably, some parents will need instruction.
Telling their parents is likely to mean less supervision not more, (Now you know how to do it, so get on with it.)

The only time I’ve found parents responding to being told what to do by there children was during our smoking is dangerous topics.
That certainly brought parents into school, ranting about it not being our place to teach children to tell their parents what is right, or telling us that ^smoking helps me have a good cough to clear my catarrh in the morning!

Allira

kittylester

The children I saw on the tv were being taught incorrectly.

Yes, they were scrubbing away but incorrectly!

Perhaps, rather than leaving this to over-pressurised teachers, there needs to be a national campaign.

As well, of course, persuading more dentists to work for the NHS by offering better contracts.

👏🏻👏🏻

kittylester

The children I saw on the tv were being taught incorrectly.

Yes, they were scrubbing away but incorrectly!

Perhaps, rather than leaving this to over-pressurised teachers, there needs to be a national campaign.

As well, of course, persuading more dentists to work for the NHS by offering better contracts.

Yep

Knowing what some children are like when you try to teach them to do something "properly" it's probably a good idea to have them taught at school. Then they can go home and lecture their parents, which they always enjoy, and hopefully some of the lessons will stick.

I remember I had to have several teeth out when the school dentist came round when I was five. I'd never been to a dentist so the whole thing was terrifying. My mother hadn't got much idea about looking after my teeth, but not all bad teeth are down to neglect. My daughter has always taken care of hers and spends a lot of money, but she has constant problems with them and multiple root canals.

Why is it costing £11 million?

Louisa they were going sideways rather than gum down.

But my primary school had visits from the nurse who checked our teeth and declared mine "beautiful". In fact, they were utter crap!

God knows!

kittylester

The children I saw on the tv were being taught incorrectly.

Can you explain why please

I remember when all state primary schools had a nurse and there were school dentists. Health visitors who looked at child welfare, welfare clinics etc. The clinics were not just for people on state benefits.

Whilst costly it certainly looked after the health of UK children.

I’ve no objections to paying towards the health of the younger generation. Reintroduce school milk, orange juice and cod liver oil!

Toilet training in schools and now children to be taught how to clean their teeth!!! What will be next?

The children I saw on the tv were being taught incorrectly.

Lazy parenting is the cause

More NHS dentists and shorter working hours for parents. Higher wages and lower healthy food prices. Less stressful lives altogether for parents so that had more time to parent.

Ilovecheese

Oh yes, do let's take money away from parents, that will really help their children.

Well not doing it isn’t helping their children is it.
What incentive would you use to make parents accept the responsibility for their children’s dental health?

Compulsory training classes for parents who don’t know how to teach their children to brush their teeth?

Oh yes, do let's take money away from parents, that will really help their children.

A mixture of those things.
Poor diet, regardless of poverty is likely to be a major factor.
Dentists say (on the news tonight) that supervised tooth brushing is the best way to avoid tooth decay.
So that puts the solution, and equally the blame for not doing it firmly in the hands of parents
Maybe fining parents whose children’s teeth have not been cared for would be successful and fund the new initiative.

My children were 'taught' by school 30 odd years ago, my dgs1 was 'taught' at nursery last year. I have no issues with schools ensuring that children know what to do, especially if parents don't. I don't think they should take over brushing teeth every day though. That's up to the parents