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Original poster

"Some six year olds have never seen a toothbrush"

246 replies

SuperGinger · 21/03/2023 12:03

Just saw an article on the BBC website about this, very sad you need your teeth for the rest of your life and we are failing our children.

Why aren't they investing in children we are storing up so many problems for the future? Especially with poor diets many children have.

OP posts:
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DinosaurOfFire · 21/03/2023 12:06

Do you have a link to the article? Here in my part of Wales every schoolchild gets a toothbrush and toothpaste sent home every 3 months, and community dentists visit schools to paint on flouride varnish stuff as well. Pre covid they also all brushed their teeth once a day in flying start/ nursery/ reception.

OP posts:
Amazonmulu · 21/03/2023 12:07

DinosaurOfFire · 21/03/2023 12:06

Do you have a link to the article? Here in my part of Wales every schoolchild gets a toothbrush and toothpaste sent home every 3 months, and community dentists visit schools to paint on flouride varnish stuff as well. Pre covid they also all brushed their teeth once a day in flying start/ nursery/ reception.

I can confirm this does not happen in Primary schools in England :(

Snoopsnoggysnog · 21/03/2023 12:13

DinosaurOfFire · 21/03/2023 12:06

Do you have a link to the article? Here in my part of Wales every schoolchild gets a toothbrush and toothpaste sent home every 3 months, and community dentists visit schools to paint on flouride varnish stuff as well. Pre covid they also all brushed their teeth once a day in flying start/ nursery/ reception.

I find this absolutely crazy

Do parents do absolutely nothing for their own children now?

By all means provide supplies for struggling families. But don’t waste resources and teaching time otherwise.

Redruby2020 · 21/03/2023 12:19

@Amazonmulu I can confirm this does not happen in Primary schools in England :(

It doesn't happen here no, but we all know enough and have access to dental products and dental care. To do better for our children.

Redruby2020 · 21/03/2023 12:19

@Snoopsnoggysnog Thankyou!

iaapap · 21/03/2023 12:21

I have to say, if your NT child has never seen a toothbrush aged 6, that you are likely to be an unfit parent. Even if you had no money at all, toothbrushes and toothpaste are available in foodbanks. You could also walk into any dentist and beg for a little sample tube of free toothpaste and do it with your fingers. I don't like to judge people, but I cannot figure out any excuse for this.

legalseagull · 21/03/2023 12:25

You say 'why aren't they investing in our children'. I'm sorry but I don't think 'they' should be responsible for ensuring every child brushes their teeth twice a day - that's on the parents.

NHS dentistry is in a shambles, but, all children are entitled to free dentistry. I doubt the parents will use it if they can't even be arsed to brush their kids teeth though

DinosaurOfFire · 21/03/2023 12:26

@Snoopsnoggysnog The Welsh government introduced it because of the poor levels of child dental health- it is almost impossible to find an NHS dentist around here. Our school has a health visitor on site who deals with the dental care element and it only takes a short time out of teaching. The flying start/ nursery/ reception teeth part was all part of the early years foundation phase, we don't have the free 15 hours childcare outside of a school setting here, we are entitled to 2.5 hours a day 5 days a week, either morning or afternoon, in a school setting so the teeth brushing came under that. Yes, parents should be doing their childrens teeth/ buying toothpaste/ taking them to the dentist but when there are no NHS dentists and private dentistry is way out of budget what are parents supposed to do?

AnneLovesGilbert · 21/03/2023 12:27

legalseagull · 21/03/2023 12:25

You say 'why aren't they investing in our children'. I'm sorry but I don't think 'they' should be responsible for ensuring every child brushes their teeth twice a day - that's on the parents.

NHS dentistry is in a shambles, but, all children are entitled to free dentistry. I doubt the parents will use it if they can't even be arsed to brush their kids teeth though

With bloody great bells on.

Amazonmulu · 21/03/2023 12:29

Redruby2020 · 21/03/2023 12:19

@Amazonmulu I can confirm this does not happen in Primary schools in England :(

It doesn't happen here no, but we all know enough and have access to dental products and dental care. To do better for our children.

They know well enough to do that in Wales too imho...

But we are where we are www.dental-nursing.co.uk/news/uk-not-even-in-top-10-european-countries-for-dental-hygiene-new-study-finds

legalseagull · 21/03/2023 12:31

DinosaurOfFire · 21/03/2023 12:26

@Snoopsnoggysnog The Welsh government introduced it because of the poor levels of child dental health- it is almost impossible to find an NHS dentist around here. Our school has a health visitor on site who deals with the dental care element and it only takes a short time out of teaching. The flying start/ nursery/ reception teeth part was all part of the early years foundation phase, we don't have the free 15 hours childcare outside of a school setting here, we are entitled to 2.5 hours a day 5 days a week, either morning or afternoon, in a school setting so the teeth brushing came under that. Yes, parents should be doing their childrens teeth/ buying toothpaste/ taking them to the dentist but when there are no NHS dentists and private dentistry is way out of budget what are parents supposed to do?

If I didn't have an NHS dentist for my kids I would likely be even more scrupulous about cleaning their teeth.

I agree it's impossible in some areas to get a dentist - but it's possible everywhere to buy a toothbrush, which is the point of this thread.

Alltheproductsnoidea · 21/03/2023 12:31

Nurseries round here send children home with toothbrushes and toothpaste! And someone came into school about it. But I know kids who have never had a dental check up as COVID, no NHS dentists and the cost of private dentists care is unaffordable.

Fluffodils · 21/03/2023 12:33

Why aren't they investing in children who? Their parents??

Snoopsnoggysnog · 21/03/2023 12:35

iaapap · 21/03/2023 12:21

I have to say, if your NT child has never seen a toothbrush aged 6, that you are likely to be an unfit parent. Even if you had no money at all, toothbrushes and toothpaste are available in foodbanks. You could also walk into any dentist and beg for a little sample tube of free toothpaste and do it with your fingers. I don't like to judge people, but I cannot figure out any excuse for this.

Exactly this.

yes it’s impossible to find an NHS dentist. That’s got nothing to do with the fact that some parents aren’t bothered enough to brush their kids teeth at home / teach them.

I have a teen DS who is lazy and allergic to tooth brushing it seems.
I care about his teeth so I still chase him round the house with a toothbrush before school.

Fluffodils · 21/03/2023 12:35

DinosaurOfFire · 21/03/2023 12:06

Do you have a link to the article? Here in my part of Wales every schoolchild gets a toothbrush and toothpaste sent home every 3 months, and community dentists visit schools to paint on flouride varnish stuff as well. Pre covid they also all brushed their teeth once a day in flying start/ nursery/ reception.

The taxpayers pay for tooth brushes and toothpaste? That's bloody ridiculous.

Social services should be involved when kids aren't given a toothbrush by their parents. If they get child benefit they should be using £1 of that to buy a cheap tooth brush every once in a while.

Lndnmummy · 21/03/2023 12:36

British children and adults have terrible dental hygiene. In the country where I am from, I don't know anyone who has ever had a filling. I had never heard of children having fillings until I came to the uk. I was so shocked at the state of people's teeth.

It is neglect on the parents part.

Jellycatspyjamas · 21/03/2023 12:37

Here in my part of Wales every schoolchild gets a toothbrush and toothpaste sent home every 3 months, and community dentists visit schools to paint on flouride varnish stuff as well. Pre covid they also all brushed their teeth once a day in flying start/ nursery/ reception.

This happens in Scotland too, as part of the national ChildsSmile programme. As well as building healthy oral habits, poor dental health is an early indicator of neglect which can then be tackled through community supports and social work if needed.

drpet49 · 21/03/2023 12:37

Neglectful parents, shame on them.

LookingOldTheseDays · 21/03/2023 12:38

iaapap · 21/03/2023 12:21

I have to say, if your NT child has never seen a toothbrush aged 6, that you are likely to be an unfit parent. Even if you had no money at all, toothbrushes and toothpaste are available in foodbanks. You could also walk into any dentist and beg for a little sample tube of free toothpaste and do it with your fingers. I don't like to judge people, but I cannot figure out any excuse for this.

I agree. Only a neglectful parent would allow this to happen. A basic cheap toothbrush can be bought for less than £1.

Original poster
SuperGinger · 21/03/2023 12:38

Obviously it is down to the parents to make sure their kids brush their teeth, but the access to dentists that that is the real problem coupled with appalling diets people in this country have.

Not brushing your child's teeth and getting them into a routine of brushing is child neglect.

OP posts:
LookingOldTheseDays · 21/03/2023 12:39

Access to dentists is a massive issue, I agree.

Fluffodils · 21/03/2023 12:39

SuperGinger · 21/03/2023 12:38

Obviously it is down to the parents to make sure their kids brush their teeth, but the access to dentists that that is the real problem coupled with appalling diets people in this country have.

Not brushing your child's teeth and getting them into a routine of brushing is child neglect.

Ah right so it's not the toothbrushes "they" should invest in. I agree dentistry is in real crisis.

DaveyJonesLocker · 21/03/2023 12:42

My cousin has 7 kids. They don't own a single toothbrush between them. Even the mum. She doesn't bath them, they didn't even have hot water for over a year. There was literally dog shit inside, shitty nappies with maggots in, in the kids rooms. Some people just aren't capable of looking after themselves, never mind kids.

Pinacalola · 21/03/2023 12:44

I am disgusted by the dental system in this country, and dental deserts. In my area it's a private only system unfortunately. But I'm also shocked at 6 year olds not knowing what a toothbrush is. If you're not brushing your kids teeth what else aren't you doing? It seems like a pretty basic thing, and I can't see how that isn't neglect. Obviously if you can't take them to the dentist because there isn't one, or the waiting lists are too long, or you can't afford to go private or travel out of area, I totally get that, that's a different thing and I really wish that things would change politically regarding dentistry as it's so integral to health and well being to have a healthy mouth, teeth and gums. But not brushing their teeth is really rubbish.