A new tooth brushing programme implemented across Scotland has led to a sharp decline in tooth decay among young children and saved £6 million in the cost of dental treatment for the under-five’s. A study carried out by the University of Glasgow showed that the initiative had reduced the cost of treating dental problems by more than 50% from 2001/02 to 2009/10, when the programme was originally introduced.
The scheme involves every nursery in Scotland offering free daily tooth brushing for children by nursery staff; it costs around £1.8million per year. As part of the Childsmile programme, the daily brushing is also accompanied by information about the importance of dental health and good diet choices from an early age.
Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson called the changes an ‘amazing achievement’ and said that the simple programme showed ‘just how much can be saved’. He went on to say that the Childsmile scheme had resulted in ‘less tooth decay in children which means less toothache, fewer sleepless nights and less time off school.’ He also praised the initiative for reducing financial pressures on the NHS because dental disease in five-year-olds has decreased. Matheson lastly added that ‘More children can just be treated routinely in the dental chair because they need less invasive treatments, so fewer fillings and fewer extractions, and many more children with much better oral health than we have seen in many years.’