Blackpool Council Annual Health Report 2019 Blackpool Council Annual Health Report PAGES | Page 31

• Dental Epidemiology
 – The Public Health department is responsible for commissioning annual
surveys to monitor children and young people’s dental health
• Brushing for Life scheme
– Toothbrush and toothpaste distribution scheme to all new mums via
Health Visitors
• Fluoridated Milk programme available to children in years one to six in
primary schools
– This is an evidence-based intervention recommended by the World
Health Organisation
– Approximately 70% of the milk ordered by schools has added fluoridate and
this equates to around 4,500 children

– The Public Health department provide the schools with information/opt-out
forms each year when the reception children move up into year one and
become eligible for fluoridated milk
– The free school breakfast programme allows the milk to be distributed to all
schools at no extra cost, since milk is included within this existing offer
• Better Start Supervised Brushing programme
WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR BETTER DENTAL HEALTH IN BLACKPOOL?
– In 41 early years settings (including four children’s centres)

– 900-1,000 children (approximately 26–29% of three and four year-olds) each
day are brushing their teeth, with the resultant benefits that daily fluoride
provides to teeth
– Daily supervised brushing is allowing the children to learn a behaviour that
should stay with them throughout their lives
– Key oral health messages are being passed onto parents by their own children
and the Early Years workers
– Parents are taking their children to the dentist at an earlier age as a result of
the messages given out by nursery staff and childminders

– Oral health inequalities are reducing in the most deprived wards
• Starting Well: Smile 4 Life programme
– Four dental practices in Blackpool have been commissioned by NHS England
to enable any children aged under-five years who do not currently visit the
dentist, to access dental services, and provide basic preventative advice to the
parents

– The Better Start Oral Health Connector supports this programme.
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