To think that parents are responsible for their children's teeth?

[insancerre]

Dental surgeon on BBC breakfast
Says that nurseries should be brushing children's teeth
She is regularly removing all 20 baby teethfrom toddlers under a general and giving teenagers false teeth

I work in a nursery and I really don't see this as my responsibility

It's down to parents to take children to the dentist and to brush their teeth

[Royalcoronation]

I'm not saying all neglect is down to drugs. Not at all. That was one example.

My mother neglected me. I wish it was because of drugs, because then I would have a reason. As it stands she was just a cunt who didn't care. I wish nursery had cleaned my teeth.

[Bonbonchance]

Our children brush their teeth in nursery, it's a bit of a faff and unnecessarily complicated with all the admin etc, but just part of the routine. Firmly agree though that parents need to take more responsibility in a lot of cases - children coming in at 3 with lots of cavities, sore mouths, getting multiple teeth removed is more & more common. It's absolutely not entirely lack of parental knowledge/education around teeth either!

[Royalcoronation]

I do have a child in the nursery who has had several teeth removed due to decay

But you still don't see that you could HELP these children. It's all very well saying it's not your responsibility, and I absolutely agree with that, which I said in my first reply. But, sometimes the benefit is more. It's for the child. I don't think children should ever suffer because of their parents. If this is one thing you can help with then who cares whether it is your responsibility or not? You are in a position to make a difference.

[OublietteBravo]

The nursery my kids went to insisted that they had a toothbrush provided. They brushed their teeth after lunch. I thought this was quite a good idea.

My DD has some serious dental issues - but they at congenital so I refuse to see this as my 'fault' (genetically it come from her father). She has had several teeth taken out under general anaesthetic, and is currently under the care of two consultants.

[Notreallyarsed]

@Royalcoronation sorry I wasn’t aiming my comment at you, it was aimed in general at MNetters who assume all neglect is something that only happens in poor homes.

I’m sorry your Mum did that to you. I know it’s not worth much from a random stranger on the internet, but you deserved better.

[insancerre]

That's the thing with campaigns like this
The people proposing them are assuming that all parents are lazy and feckless or there wouldn't be the need for the scheme in the first place
It's the assumption that parents are no longer capable of maintaining good oral hygiene and that state intervention is needed
It's passing the buck massively
Never mind that the NHS has been seriously underfunded for years

[NewBrian]

I worked in a nursery years ago where a parent would ask us to brush his teeth every morning as the child wouldn’t let her . No, it’s not up to nurseries to brush 30+ kids teeth.

[Royalcoronation]

not

Thank you.

[brownelephant]

Never mind that the NHS has been seriously underfunded for years

there you have it.
it's about the money.
tooth extraction under ga easily costs a grand.

a toothbrush 1£ and the good habits instilled are priceless.

not to mention that poor oral hygiene also has other effects on health like malnutrition and all that comes with it or the effects of constant inflammation on the heart and cardiovascular system. again expensive to investigate & treat.

[Situp]

I think that a parent in a 1-1 situation has a better chance of ensuring that a child's teeth are properly brushed than a nursery worker supervising several children at once.

I think there is a life skills element where part of the nursery day can be that the children all get their brushes out and have a go but in terms of ensuring good oral health, that should be done at home.

Our DD has been brushing her teeth in nursery since she had them and has also had visits from the dentist there but I dont see that as a substitute for me taking responsibility for her oral health.

[Marcine]

The children I know who have had 10+ teeth removed are not from families with mental health or drug issues. Parents could brush their teeth, and in the long run it would be better if they did.

[LorelaiVictoriaGilmore]

I think if a nursery worker put my 2 year old ds in a headlock and pinned his arms down while using a toothbrush to lever open his mouth, they would get in trouble. However since I am his mother, in no other way physically abusive and am doing it for his own good, I hope social services will understand.

[Micksout]

All settings in my area have been doing this for a long time as part of a nhs initiative to reduce tooth decay. It takes 5 mins a day max to prepare the brushed and get them to brush their teeth, for some children it's the only time they brush their teeth.

Not all children have parents who give a shit so I'm happy to increase my workload if it gives them a chance at keeping their teeth.

[brownelephant]

I think if a nursery worker put my 2 year old ds in a headlock and pinned his arms down while using a toothbrush to lever open his mouth, they would get in trouble.

peer pressure and different environment can make such a difference with things like that.

[Micksout]

Yeah we tend not to use headlocks

The children love it, even the ones who really hate brushing their teeth at home. We sing a song or sometimes use a toothbrushing app.

[Oooocrikeyitscold]

Wow to the individual who said that Polish people don’t care about their children’s teeth.......wow-let’s stereotype a whole nation based on your limited exposure to a few individuals. Based on the news report today we could also say the whole of English parents don’t care about their children’s teeth.

My nursery does it and it’s great because my son copies other children.

[Allyg1185]

I'm in Scotland where we have childsmile programme. I am also an early years practitioner. Toothbrushing is seen as part of the childs health and wellbeing and the daily routine of the nursery.

Its absolutely the parents responsibility to care for their childs teeth but not all do so this programme is beneficial to those children.

My son is p2 and brushes his teeth at school. Does no harm in my opinion and reinforces the brushing done at home

[Allthewaves]

Our local nursery runs a healthy teeth programme. Kids brush after their snack. For some of the kids it may be only brush they get - deprived area. And kids get toothbrush and paste to take home at start of the year. Plus two monthly visits from dentist to talk about teeth.

[ThunderboltsLightning]

YANBU of course it is the parents' responsibility to look after their child's teeth. However, if it meant a child having tooth decay or not i think it's more important to prioritise their health over principle.

[FluffyWuffy100]

She is regularly removing all 20 baby teethfrom toddlers under a general and giving teenagers false teeth

That is horrific. The parents should be prosecuted for neglect.

[Heatherjayne1972]

Hygienist here
It absolutely is the parents responsibility to clean their kids teeth and not fill them up with sugary rubbish
There’s a feeling in the Dental world which says that because decay is preventable parents whose children have decayed teeth removed should be prosecuted for neglect

[insancerre]

Heather
Will that not put people off taking them to the dentist?

[user1488397844]

I worked in a breakfast club before school and we had to ensure the children all brushed their teeth before going to class in the morning. It wasn't as much of a nightmare as it sounds as we took them in groups (obviously some were older) and kept the toothbrushes in labelled Ziploc bags for each child. 5mins out of the day. No big issue really. My child brushes her teeth at nursery but we had to consent so for people saying they don't want their child doing it, they won't if you don't give permission. (But don't be surprised when your kid had a meltdown because they're not allowed when everyone else is!)

[fluffygreenmonsterhoody]

It's the assumption that parents are no longer capable of maintaining good oral hygiene and that state intervention is needed

No. It’s an acknowledgement that a significant minority of children need help with their oral health and they’re not getting it from their parents.

DS has been in a private and state nursery, with 30 and 60 kids in at once and certainly no over abundance of sinks. The childsmile programme has made such a huge impact on child oral health up here, and is so well embedded that nobody questions whether it’s their job. It just is.

Early prevention is by far better than the NHS having to fix things ten years down the line, especially with the NHS on its knees.

[fluffygreenmonsterhoody]

Also, in terms of what has to give way for tooth brushing? Nurseries here tie it in with counting, learning about time, social skills, nutrition...