Schools sign up to schemeto help tackle tooth decay

Last year, more than 300 children in Lincolnshire - almost one per day - had to go under general anaesthetic to have decayed teeth removed.

To tackle the issue a new project, Lincolnshire Smiles which is funded by NHS England, is seeing teachers carrying out supervised tooth-brushing sessions with children in reception classes, having first had a visit from their local dental practice.

Twenty independent dental practices have signed up to ‘adopt’ a school in their area so far.

Horncastle Primary School has teamed up with ‘Horncastle-My Dentist’ and Tattershall Primary School with the Coningsby Dental Practice.

The dental team deliver a ‘Better Oral Health’ workshop to the children and teachers and set up racks for toothbrushes and a system for the children to learn how to brush their teeth.

Gina Hargrave, Oral Health Promoter at Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) is training the Dental Practice staff how to promote oral health to five year olds.

She said: “This is a great way for children and their parents to understand how brushing teeth every day with a fluoride toothpaste helps to protect teeth.

“Prevention is so much better than cure. Working together with parents, schools and local dental practices we can make sure that children in Lincolnshire have something to smile about.”

Campaigners say brushing teeth for just two minutes a day can make a big difference.