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Beyond the tooth fairy: Will government policies improve our children’s smiles?

3 mins read Public Health
As ever, the early years sits right at the heart of societal issues.
June O’Sullivan is chief executive of the London Early Years Foundation. Picture: LEYF
June O'Sullivan, chief executive of Leyf

This time we are being asked to help look after children’s oral health. Why? Because the level of tooth decay (caused by having too much sugary food and drink and not cleaning your teeth and gums) remains a deep concern. So much so that the government has committed to deliver a supervised toothbrushing scheme for three- to five- year-olds, targeting the areas of highest need.

My question, however, is why start at age three when children begin teething around six months – a time when their teeth are most vulnerable? Additionally, during the first two to four years, the enamel is still soft, and parents often assume that milk teeth are unimportant.

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