A new study has revealed a “postcode lottery” in the availability of supervised toothbrushing for children in England, with significant variations in provision across the country, according to leading dental professionals. This follows a Labour manifesto pledge to introduce a supervised toothbrushing scheme for children aged three to five, targeting areas of highest need. However, the British Dental Association (BDA) has criticized the Government for failing to deliver on this commitment.
Supervised toothbrushing programs, which are already in place in Wales and Scotland, are typically offered in schools and nurseries. These programs encourage children to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste under supervision, helping prevent dental issues from a young age.
However, a review published in the British Dental Journal has revealed substantial inconsistencies in the schemes available in England. While many of these programs, run or commissioned by local authorities, target areas with high levels of deprivation or dental disease, the provision of these services is uneven. For instance, in some regions, only 70 children benefit from the support, while others serve over 10,000. Alarmingly, four in 10 local authorities have not implemented a supervised toothbrushing program at all.
The study highlights significant barriers to the expansion and effectiveness of these programs, including insufficient funding, logistical challenges, and a lack of community engagement. Researchers argue that dental caries remains a significant public health issue in England, and supervised toothbrushing programs are proven to reduce both the prevalence of dental decay and inequalities. These programs are also deemed cost-effective, particularly when targeting deprived areas.
The study further reveals that the provision of supervised toothbrushing programs is highly varied across local authorities. Although there is a robust case for increasing the number and scale of these programs, barriers such as inadequate and unsustainable funding have hindered their growth. Without a recurrent and reliable funding mechanism, many areas are unable to implement these vital programs.
Eddie Crouch, Chairman of the British Dental Association, emphasized the need for government action: “The Government has made the right call on supervised toothbrushing, but it needs to put its money where its mouth is. Ministers have a chance to save children from pain and reduce the financial burden on our NHS, but only if they are willing to invest properly.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the issue, stating, “NHS dentistry is broken, too many children are growing up with tooth decay, and not enough has been done to help children keep their teeth healthy. We will fix this, introducing supervised toothbrushing in early years settings and making prevention a central part of our plan to rebuild dentistry.”
The findings underscore the urgent need for a national strategy that ensures all children, particularly in the most deprived areas, receive the dental care and preventive measures they deserve.
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