NHS England targets childhood dental health

Latest data show that over 140 children per day, some just one year old, are having decayed teeth removed. This is now being tackled head on with a newly launched awareness programme supporting 24,000 dentists across England to see more children from a young age.

Good dental health habits can be formed by booking a baby’s first dental check by their first birthday, stopping the rot before it starts and preventing the need for future tooth extractions.

As part of the Starting Well Core programme, the chief dental officer for England, Sara Hurley, is also encouraging parents and carers to take advantage of extra access opportunities at their local dental practice and obtaining free NHS dental care.

Sara Hurley said, “Taking pre-school children to the dentist can prevent the pain of tooth extractions. Regular visits to your dentist from a very early age is key to developing habits that lead to a lifetime of good oral health. The NHS is providing additional support to dentists to help them see more children, so that painful and distressing dental operations, later in life, can be reduced.”