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changes to children’s behaviours. An international study involving 2,800 three and four-year-olds from


17 countries examined the degree to which parents’ attitudes towards brushing twice a day and controlling sugar exposure impacted their children’s oral health habits. It also examined the impact of factors such as ethnicity, culture, deprivation, and any previous decay experience. Results showed widely varying attitudes in families from deprived and non-deprived backgrounds, and in families with and without caries. However it was the parents’ perception of their ability to ensure brushing twice a day and control sugar snacking that was the most significant predictor of favourable habits being adopted. Parental attitudes have been shown to be imperative in influencing


ST DECAY


on dental extractions in under-18s in 2014-2015, a rise of 66 per cent since 2010-2011. It showed 40,970 procedures were carried out in 2013-2014 compared to 32,457 in 2010-2011. This was blamed on high consumption of sugary drinks and food,


prompting renewed calls for action. The LGA’s community wellbeing spokeswoman Izzi Seccombe said: “As


these figures show, we don’t just have a child obesity crisis, but a children’s oral health crisis too. What makes these numbers doubly alarming is the fact so many teeth extractions are taking place in hospitals rather than dentists. This means the level of tooth decay is so severe that removal is the only option. “Poor oral health can affect children and young people’s ability to


sleep, eat, speak, play and socialise with others. Having good oral health can help children learn at school, and improve their ability to thrive and develop, not least because it will prevent school absence.” Campaigners as diverse as TV chef Jamie Oliver and the British Dental


Association have long called for action on excessive sugar intake. In 2013, the BDA launched its Make a Meal of It campaign calling for a 20 per cent tax on sugary soft drinks, a ban on unhealthy food advertising for children, removal of unhealthy vending machines in schools and hospitals, and restriction of junk food at shop tills. The government appears to have finally responded with an


announcement in the recent Budget of a levy on soft drinks companies based on sugar levels in their products.


Negative attitudes While it’s hoped measures such as a sugar tax will help, educating parents and carers in good oral health practice is key to making positive


their children’s risk of developing decay, with some commonly held misconceptions and beliefs continuing to have a negative impact:


‘Bad teeth run in the family’ ‘Some people just naturally have soft teeth’ ‘It wouldn’t be fair to not give them sweets every day’ ‘They’re only baby teeth, at least they’ll get a new set’ ‘The dentist is the best person to prevent tooth decay in our child’


Sending a message There are numerous ongoing campaigns that aim to improve children’s oral health across the UK, many run by the likes of the Oral Health Foundation, the BDA, and a variety of NHS and government agencies. One of the most ambitious and wide-reaching is Childsmile, launched


by the Scottish Government in 2006 with the aim of improving children’s oral health and reducing dental health inequalities. It aims to reach every child in Scotland, offering free daily supervised tooth brushing at nursery; free dental packs for tooth brushing at home; and care with primary dental services. Children and families in greatest need are supported directly through


enhanced care from primary dental services, with additional home support as well as clinical programmes such as twice-yearly fluoride varnish applications for nurseries and primary schools The scheme has been largely well received and since its launch,


figures suggest children’s dental health in Scotland is improving, particularly in deprived communities. Budgets allowing, a nationwide prevention-based approach such as Childsmile could have a positive effect in the rest of the UK, perhaps helping to trim down the NHS’ hefty teeth extraction bill. What is clear is that the fight against child tooth decay needs to be a


multi-faceted one, perhaps encompassing improved health education, national prevention programmes, targeted taxation, and tailored treatment for different patient types. With a bit of luck dentists will continue to see improvements and maybe one day children’s oral health will really give us something to smile about.


Sameera Teli is a dentist and editor of SoundBite


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