According to new statistics released by the Scottish Government, people in Glasgow are costing more money than the rest of Scotland when it comes to dental treatment – approximately £57 for adults and £73 for children in the last year. NHS Ayrshire and Arran came in second, with around £52 for adults and £71 for children. The cheapest place for tooth care was Orkney, spending as little as £23 on adult dental treatment.
Experts say that the dramatic difference in price is probably caused by poor diet in some areas of Scotland, along with a lax attitude towards oral hygiene; overall, people who fail to brush their teeth or teach their children good hygiene habits cost the NHS almost £260million last year. Clinical director for the Scottish Centre for Excellence in Dentistry, Arshad Ali, said that it was important for parents to set a good example with dental hygiene; he said ‘In areas with higher levels of deprivation, such as Glasgow, information shows that dental health is poorer. Poor dental health is very much related to diet and frequency of tooth brushing. It is important that people brush regularly with fluoride toothpaste and for parents to pass on good advice to their children.’
Mr Ali also added that any symptoms of dental problems should be addressed quickly, saying ‘It is important to get treatment early. You will get parents who bring children in at the first sign of a problem and other wait till their children are in real pain. At this point, the cost of treatment will be higher.’