Tooth decay down by 12%

LEVELS of tooth decay in five-year-olds have steadily declined over the past decade in Wales.

That’s according to an NHS dental programme funded by the Welsh Government called Designed to Smile.

Since it was launched in 2008, levels of dental decay in five-year-olds in Wales have dropped by 12%.

The programme has encouraged nearly 95,000 children to regularly brush their teeth. Following on from this success, the Designed to Smile programme will now be re-focused to target children under the age of five.

Research has shown that dental decay often starts early and therefore early prevention will have the most impact.

The new focus of the Designed to Smile activities will therefore shift towards this younger age group, with the aim of achieving as many children as possible to be decay-free by five years old.

Chief dental officer Colette Bridgman said: “The refocus of the programme will encourage everyone working with children under five to help improve their oral health.

“It is important that every young child in Wales is supervised to brush their teeth with family fluoride toothpaste at bedtime, and on one other occasion every day.

“Having nothing sweet to eat or drink in the last hour before bedtime will also help to protect teeth from decay.”