CHIDREN’S centres and pre-schools in the Forest of Dean got their teeth into the problem of tooth decay in young children recently and have seen great improvements in dental health.

Auriol Barker, oral health promotion specialist at Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust, who set up the award, said: “In 2012 the percentage of five year-olds with tooth decay was 28 in both Gloucestershire and England as a whole, but rates in the Forest of Dean were 46 per cent. Three years on, it’s extremely rewarding that those figures are back down to the national average.”

The Smiles Better Awards Scheme runs in 58 participating pre-schools and children’s centres across the Forest and Gloucester and sets objectives to help them to encourage healthier teeth.

 Auriol added: “In some areas of the country decay rates are rising, so I think it’s clear that this awards scheme is contributing to successes in the Forest.

“We offer accreditation to children’s centres and pre-schools that change their working practices and work in partnership with families to improve the oral health of the children in their care.

  “Examples include taking details of the dental surgery, as well as GP practice, that each child is registered with to increase awareness of the importance of visiting the dentist, providing regular information on tooth-brushing and bringing snacks and meals into line with voluntary nutritional guidelines to ensure children are given a healthy diet.”