Tooth brushing lessons to be run in schools with students who have high levels of decay

SUPERVISED tooth brushing lessons will be run in schools that are battling high levels of tooth decay as the government tries to boost access to fluoride in pockets of the state going without it.

SUPERVISED tooth brushing lessons will be run in schools that are battling high levels of tooth decay as the government tries to boost access to fluoride in pockets of the state going without it.

NSW Health has released a community fluoride strategy that calls upon local health authorities to work with schools and child care centres to reduce tooth decay.

Under the policy, authorities from local health districts whose residents can’t access fluoridated water or are at high risk of dental disease will work with schools to introduce tooth brushing into daily routines.

Authorities will distribute fluoridate toothpaste and toothbrushes with teachers trained in brushing. The policy affects “high-risk” groups such as rural and remote communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and low income earners.

Year 3 student Henry Hillsdon brushing his teeth at his home in Port Macquarie. Picture: Nathan Edwards

In NSW 93 per cent of the population has access to fluoridated drinking water.

But the Australian Dental Association NSW president Dr Neil Peppitt said in some remote schools only one in 10 students own a toothbrush.

“Some populations who are at the highest risk of suffering tooth decay don’t currently have access to fluoridated water. These communities are mostly in rural and remote areas with populations that are not connected to town water supplies,” Dr Peppitt said.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said dental health was the key to “lifelong good health”.

“Anything the local health districts can do working with our schools to get some voluntary practice from children to understand the best method and frequency for tooth brushing will be long term fantastic gift to those kids,” he said.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said dental health is the key to a “lifelong good health”. Picture: AAP Image/Brendan Esposito

The anti-fluoride movement, likened to anti-vaxxers due to its baseless scaremongering, has been active in Gunnedah and Bega. Both councils recently voted to introduce fluoride to their water.

Port Macquarie’s Henry Hilsdon, 8, benefits from fluoridated water and his mum Jane’s insistence he brush his teeth twice a day.

“Kid’s don’t understand the consequences of not brushing their teeth,” Ms Hilsdon said.

In NSW over half of children have decay in their baby teeth by age six while 48 per cent of 12-year-olds have decay in their permanent teeth.