Wales Kids Have Worst Teeth In UK

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Welsh children have the worst rates of tooth decay in the UK and are to be handed free toothbrushes and toothpaste to stop the rot.

They will be given out as part of a three-year plan funded by the Welsh Assembly Government to be rolled out in the two counties in three phases.

And a fleet of mobile dental units will be launched by First Minister Rhodri Morgan today.

Health Minister Edwina Hart said, “Welsh children have the worst rates of tooth decay in the UK.

“On average, a five year old in Wales has between two and three decayed, missing or filled teeth, compared to less than two in Great Britain as a whole.”

The First Minister said: “Rates of tooth decay are far too high in Wales given that it is almost a preventable disease.”

The campaign Designed to Smile aims to teach the importance of brushing teeth to children aged between 0 and 11 years.

In the first year, the programme will focus on children aged between three and five and will teach the importance of brushing teeth properly with a fluoride toothpaste.

It will provide free toothbrushes and toothpaste for children to use at both home and school and will encourage them to brush twice a day.

The second year will also work with children aged between 0 and 3 years by providing toothbrushes, toothpaste and drinking beakers and advising parents and carers on how to look after children’s teeth.

Children between six and 11 will become involved in the programme in its third year and will take part in classroom activities focused on dental health.

Mandy Silva, Designed to Smile, co-ordinator for Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, said: “Compared to the rest of the UK, some areas of Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot have very high levels of dental decay in children.

“Evidence shows that toothbrushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste reduces the risk of this preventable disease.”

Source: News Wales