Dentists in Rochdale are taking part in a new campaign designed to encourage parents to take their children to visit the surgery and get their teeth assessed on a regular basis; the initiative, entitled ‘Baby Teeth DO Matter’ has been launched to try and combat the high numbers of children with tooth decay throughout the region.
Dental professionals are hoping to deliver the clear and simple message to get parents and children into a routine of good oral hygiene; 1. Teeth should be brushed before bed using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste – less for children under three, and 2. Try not to give your child anything to eat or drink for an hour before bedtime – although milk or water is fine.
Clinics that are involved in the campaign are going to offer a free toothbrush and toothpaste to children aged five or under who have never been to the dentist before.
Colette Bridgman, consultant in Dental Public Health and Chair of the Greater Manchester Local Dental Network, said that they are focusing on children younger than five and providing them with education about oral hygiene. She added that ‘This scheme is an opportunity for dentists to identify those people who do not understand the importance of good dental hygiene from a young age. Children who do not look after their teeth often experience difficulties and dental problems later in life.’