Designed to Smile Free Oral Health Program in Wales

Designed to Smile is an free oral health program which takes place in disadvantaged communities all throughout Wales.

These programs help reducing all the health inequalities in the system. Children living in remoter areas of the country do not have the same access or the same opportunities to proper oral health care, as children from the urban areas.

Through this program, the dental health support workers and volunteers are basically offering a monitored tooth brushing program throughout schools. Children are also offered free toothbrushes, toothpaste, but also precious advice on proper oral healthcare.

Statistics have shown that while 50% of the kids across Wales do not struggle with too many oral health complications, the other 50% struggle on average with as many as four extracted, decayed, or filled teeth.

Young children struggling with tooth decay will generally have to be put on general anesthetics, so that the dentist can perform the treatment.

However, if children get proper education in the oral health field, there will be less and less need of children being put through such dental treatments.

Thanks to such programs as the Designed to Smile, children will be taught to brush their teeth frequently with toothpaste that contains fluoride.

The active ingredient fluoride will help against the formation of dental cavities, and thus children will start promoting healthy teeth from the early stages of their life.

The scheme will also offer some precious advice to young children such as teaching them about the good habits they need to respect for a good oral health These include avoiding sugary drinks, or eating unhealthy snacks.

Respecting such habits will definitely help children protect general health as well, and stay away from complications such as diabetes or heart diseases on the long run.

The program is certainly not only about teaching children how to brush their teeth, but also about teaching them the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.

By respecting a healthy diet, they protect the teeth, the gums but also any other organ in their body. Developing and maintaining good oral health habits starting early is extremely important.