The charity Dental Wellness, which is behind the call, says the provision of such programmes across all UK nurseries and primary schools would reduce tooth decay in children by up to 30 per cent, saving the NHS nearly £30 million on tooth extractions.
According to the charity, which was set up in by London dentist Dr Linda Greenwall in 2011, approximately 36,500 children are admitted to hospital each year for tooth extractions at a cost of around £30.5 million.
Findings from a survey of parents and teachers conducted by Dental Wellness suggests that more than a fifth (24.7 per cent) of mothers and fathers are at risk of neglecting their child’s well-being by being unconcerned that their child is at risk of tooth decay if they don’t brush their teeth regularly.
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