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25.
May
2016.
An apple a day keeps the dentist away from Milton Keynes children

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25 May 2016

For immediate release

An apple a day keeps the dentist away from Milton Keynes children

FEWER five year olds in Milton Keynes are going to the dentist with tooth decay problems - thanks in part to work by CNWL's Oral Health Improvement Team.

Tooth decay rates for this age group show that 21.5% of 5 years olds are affected by decay compared to 25% in 2012.

The CNWL team has played its part in this achievement, which has seen it running a number of successful programmes during this time including the Smile Award programme and the Healthy Early Years Award.

Both these programmes recognise the positive work Early Years settings do to encourage and support good oral health for the under-fives and have encouraged families and young children to make positive behaviour changes for the health of their teeth.

This work includes providing tooth friendly foods and drinks, reducing the use of bottles and dummies in children over one, signposting to local NHS dentists and teaching children to brush their teeth twice a day.

More than 100 Early Years settings hold the Smile Award while last year about 900 early years' staff received oral health training. More than 17 settings have achieved the Healthy Early Years Award, which started last March.

In 2015-16 the MK Oral Health Improvement team delivered 143 oral health sessions to families with children under five - benefiting a total of 1,959 families.

These sessions involve providing advice and information on oral health, being supported to use an open cup rather than a bottle, and stopping using a dummy and being encouraged to make tooth friendly food and drink choices.

MK Oral Health Improvement also runs a fluoride varnish programme. Last year 254 children had fluoride varnish applied.

Oral Health Improvement Manager, Lucie Daleki, said: "It's true what people say about eating an apple a day keeping the dentist away! We've seen families drinking more water, eating more fruits and vegetables, providing ‘me sized' food portions and making healthier lunch boxes, while children are learning to love their teeth

"The Oral Health Team has been a large part of this effort as we've worked really hard to engage with and support families with our programmes.

"This latest data showing a reduction in decay rates for our five year olds is fantastic and the Milton Keynes Oral Health Team is pleased to have been part of this achievement in health improvement for this age group."

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Stephenson House, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL
Tel: 020 3214 5756 e-mail:
communications.cnwl@nhs.net