Lessons in brushing
to save children’s teeth
By: Moira Collett
Recent figures show alarming numbers of tooth extractions for young children
(www.the times.co.uk lessons-in brushing-to-save-teeth)
Could your nursery in the UAE set up a tooth brushing club to counter the current epidemic of
dental decay which is happening in children as young as one-year-old?
Some children spend more than six hours per day in their nurseries and
don’t brush their teeth within that period. Children could be given a free
toothbrush by the nursery (or bring their own) and taught by teachers
how to brush their teeth under supervision.
Tooth brushing clubs in the UK have sprung up after alarming
figures showed that the number of children under the age
of four having tooth extractions under general anaesthetic
has risen by 25% in the past decade. Data also shows
that 9,206 extractions were carried out on children
under four and of these 47 were for babies under the
age of one year. It can be that mums may give in too
easily to a child who shows resistance to picking up a
toothbrush before bed or parents say they are too
busy to supervise such routines.
Famous chef Jamie Oliver blames fizzy drinks sweets
and other sugary foods for the rising problem of bad
teeth among children. His documentary ‘Jamie’s Sugar
Rush’ features children crying after having rotten teeth
pulled out under general anaesthetic.
www.eyes-me.com