This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Dental health of children smiles better
08/02/2007
Children's oral health is better than ever but there is still more work to be done, according to new figures published today.
The National Dental Inspection Programme results for 2006 show that 54 per cent of children in Primary One now have no signs of tooth decay.
The figures are the best since the programme began in 1987 and show that the Executive is well on the way to meeting the target of having 60 per cent of children with no signs of dental disease by 2010.
Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald welcomed the figures today during a visit to a nursery class at St John's Primary School in Alloa, where children regularly take part in a toothbrushing scheme.
NHS Forth Valley reported the best oral health results of any health board in Scotland, with 68 per cent of P1 children's teeth showing no obvious signs of decay.
Mr Macdonald said:
"I am really encouraged that children's oral health is improving so rapidly. These figures are the best since reporting began in 1987 and show continuous improvement since 1996.
"It is through projects like toothbrushing schemes we have introduced that we are really beginning to make a difference to children's oral health.
"Now more than 100,000 children across Scotland take part in a daily toothbrushing scheme at nursery and primary school and we plan to roll this out to even more schools.
"Projects like Childsmile which we launched last year, along with our record level of investment in dental services, are also having a positive impact and boosting children's oral health.
"I recognise that historically Scotland has had a poor oral health record but I firmly believe that today's figures are a sign that things are moving in the right direction and we are helping keep our children's smiles free from decay.
"I know there is a lot more work to be done but I am confident that if children keep taking part in schemes like this one here at St John's Primary in Alloa, the oral health of the next generation will continue to improve."
Ian McNicol, headteacher of St John's Primary, said:
"St John's Nursery class has enthusiastically supported the toothbrushing initiative in the pre-school setting since its inception in September 2000.
"Every child who attends the nursery is offered daily supervised toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste from the age of three. The toothbrushing is often accompanied by a 'brushing song', not only to make it fun but to ensure that each child brushes for the recommended period of time."
This year's figures for P1 children are an improvement on the 51 per cent in the same age group in 2004 and 45 per cent in 2003.