Panorama. Britain's Child Health Crisis.

Schools have always taught children to brush their teeth. They did it when my ds(38) and DD(33) were young. But I agree that NHS dentistry is in a parlous condition generally.

Fluoride in the water needed? Not many children here have bad teeth because of it. Just as well because dentists charge like wounded bulls here.

There's been fluoride in the water in Scotland for decades, I believe

It all ties into a much bigger, grim picture I think.

I stand corrected. There is no added fluoride in Scottish water but it occurs naturally, although not in enough quantities to help tooth decay.

Labour should make it a priority to bring back school dentists and provide free dentistry until the age of 18..

Glad to see you pass some responsibility for tooth care to the parents, Sarnia
The scarcity of dentists is a major issue, but parents should instil good dental hygiene from the start.
In our Y2/3, part of science is knowing about and looking after your teeth. We hand out toothbrushes and toothpaste packs and ask parents if children may use disclosing tablets to help them check how good their brushing is.
Maybe that should start at nursery/preschool instead, but it does seem a bit like nanny state.

I can remember that happening when I was a child, though, in the 70s.

It's nothing new although I hoped we had moved on. We never had toothbrushes. I had all my teeth taken out aged 11 through neglect. It was horrendous.

My parents were incredibly hard up but they taught me how to clean my teeth and bought toothpaste and brushes. The school dentist visited although not very often by my recollection, but I wasn't taken to the dentist until I was about 9 or 10.

It's down to parents to introduce teeth cleaning from toddlerhood. Yes, there should be more dentists, that's a different issue, but the initial introduction to cleaning teeth used to come from parents.

I still maintain its symptomatic of much deeper issues.

Dental check ups are free for everyone in Scotland and dental treatment is free for up to 26 year olds and pregnant and nursing mothers.Its the prevention is better than the cost of the cure system…bad dental health can lead to other very costly NHS treatments .
This way there’s the chance people will realise that dental health and good nice teeth areimportant to them
It’s looking after new generations to avoid. A pile up further down the road not the Westminster way at all!

If parents taught their children how to brush their teeth, (and do it for them when they are too young to do it themselves), plus cutting down on sweet, sugary food and drink, there wouldn’t be such a problem.

Doesn’t alter the fact there aren’t enough NHS dentists, but it would be a good foundation for healthier teeth.

Whilst I do agree about the current state of NHS dentists, I do hold parents equally responsible! A huge rise in the consumption of sugary drinks and foods, with poor regular tooth hygiene has led to this shocking state of affairs. The first time I was out with my children, actually in McDonald’s, as a treat, my children had water and I saw a woman putting coke into a toddlers bottle!!!

I work in early years, there may be iproblems with NHS dentistry but that is not the main issue with childrens teeth. It is indeed a good idea for the government to improve NHS dentistry, it would be even better for them to look at safeguarding issues.

My DD works as a learning support in a secondary school, she is horrified at the school meals available for the students to buy. Sticky cakes drinks and biscuits along with unhealthy meals. When she questioned the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables available she was told -the kids wouldn’t eat them and food would be wasted. My GD had nearly finished her first year in secondary school and has had her first filling, much to DD disappointment. GD of course buys the cakes etc and it’s all paid by fingerprint touch , the bill sent to the parents so no control possible!

I'm quite amazed at the amount of "junk" the children that have moved into my neighbourhood have.

It seems a never ending cycle of drinks, sweets, cakes and anything else they can fit in.

I wouldn't like to be a judgmental old bat, but I am one.

I've honestly never seen anything like it.

Kate1949

It's nothing new although I hoped we had moved on. We never had toothbrushes. I had all my teeth taken out aged 11 through neglect. It was horrendous.

On this programme, Kate1949 a paediatrician said she had extracted 18 teeth from a little boy. His age only have 20 to start with. As you say, horrendous and on many levels too.

Yes Sarnia horrific. That poor child. Young as I was I knew my life was going to be difficult from that day. Laughed at, bullied, called names. Unforgivable by my parents.

MissAdventure

I still maintain its symptomatic of much deeper issues.

I think you’re right, but whether your deeper issues are the same as mine is a different matter.

paddyann54

Dental check ups are free for everyone in Scotland and dental treatment is free for up to 26 year olds and pregnant and nursing mothers.Its the prevention is better than the cost of the cure system…bad dental health can lead to other very costly NHS treatments .
This way there’s the chance people will realise that dental health and good nice teeth areimportant to them
It’s looking after new generations to avoid. A pile up further down the road not the Westminster way at all!

Dental care is free for under 18’s in England.

It is free for pregnant women and one year following the birth of their baby.

It is also free for those receiving benefits.

The problem is with the Dentists contracts introduced in 2006, which need updating.

Parents cannot be made to teach their children to brush their teeth,

Andrea Leadsom was being interviewed on tv yesterday and said how important oral health was for both parents and children. And yet the interviewer didn’t question her about the way NHS dentistry has been run down over the past 14 years.

Whatever the deeper issues, it's reasonable to assume they could be addressed in an appropriate way, since it is the children who will suffer the fallout.