Quick guide to... Oral health

• The scheme Childsmile has been set up by NHS Lothian, in conjunction with the Scottish government, and will ensure that every child born in the area has access to a dentist. Each baby will also be given a detailed dental-care plan, which will help parents to look after their children's teeth.
• With a focus on children aged from birth to four-years, Scottish health chiefs are aiming to target young children to rebuff current trends that indicate children are being affected by tooth decay and gum disease from an increasingly young age. Children's oral health should start even before their first teeth appear by being careful of the types of fluids they consume, and later what type of food they are eating. Regular teeth cleaning and visits to the dentist are also essential.
• Tooth decay occurs when the bugs on our teeth accumulate and turn the sugars in foods and drinks into acids, which dissolve the surface of the teeth. This can be prevented by brushing teeth and gums twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and keeping sugary foods and drinks to a minimum. Signs of gum disease include inflammation of the gum tissue, rapid bone loss, tooth mobility and tooth loss. It is important to register with a dentist.
• Parents should be aware of hidden sugars in foods, which are labelled in a different way, such as dextrose or modified starch. Children should also be supervised while brushing their teeth until they are seven-years-old.

1/3 of people in Britain brush their teeth once a day or less

61% of children are not registered with a dentist

43% of five-year-olds experienced tooth decay in 2003

Source: British Dental Health Foundation, National Dental Survey 2009 and National Children's Dental Health Survey 2003