NON-FLUORIDATED Scotland’s CHILDSMILE Programme
has brought tooth decay rates far below New Zealand’s rates.
CHILDSMILE Saves £5 Million PER YEAR
in dental health costs for Scotland’s population of 5 million
Preventing THOUSANDS of surgeries and fillings
In non-fluoridated Scotland, the Government has undertaken a comprehensive programme to combat dental decay, particularly in poor areas.
The CHILDSMILE programme, which started in 2001, involves tooth-brushing schemes in pre-schools and primary schools, ensuring children are seen by a dental therapist early, and children and parents get education about sugary foods and drinks.
This is having great success with falling dental decay rates and the need for general anaesthetic oral surgeries being cut in half. This saves Scotland approximately 5 million pounds per year, it prevents tens of thousands of fillings, and saves immeasurable childhood pain and suffering.
There are now other successful programmes around the world modeled on the Scottish CHILDSMILE programme.
Scotland New Zealand
In 20 years, Scotland’s rate of dental fillings for age 5 children has been cut by more than half. (2.93 to 1.27). | New Zealand’s rate of dental fillings for age 5 children has unfortunately INCREASED in that time, from 1.71 to 1.88 average fillings per child. |
The only areas listed in the 2013 NZ Ministry of Health statistics that have better teeth than Scotland’s rate for children FREE of decay are two non-fluoridated areas: Wairarapa & Waitemata. | Non-fluoridated areas of NZ often have better teeth than fluoridated areas, according to Ministry of Health statistics. This is also true overseas. |
Since CHILDSMILE began in 2001, the rate of age 5 Scottish children FREE of decay has gone from 45% to 68%. This is an improvement of 23%. | NZ has improved only by 4%. Now, at 57%, we are much lower than Scotland. |
High decile areas of Scotland now have 83% of children FREE of decay. | No area listed in NZ MoH statistics comes even close to this rate. |
In 20 years, Scotland’s rate of fillings for Year 8 children was slashed by TWO-THIRDS (from 2.08 to 0.6). | NZ’s rate has barely dropped at all (1.33 to 1.14). Nowhere now in NZ is near Scotland’s extremely low fillings rate. |
In 20 years, the rate of Scottish Year 8 children FREE of decay has almost DOUBLED. An improvement from 37.9% to 72.8%. | NZ has improved only by 5% in this same time period. It is now 54%. |
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CHILDSMILE’s children far surpass New Zealand’s children in all
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3 KEY PROGRAMME ELEMENTS
CHILDSMILE in Scotland DESIGNED TO SMILE in Wales
Japanese school dental programmes:
Regular pre-school and primary school dental screenings
Daily supervised brushing at pre-schools and low decile primary schools
Classroom brushing programmes and resident school dentists are the norm in Japan
Education for parents and children about healthy foods and drinks
And avoiding sugar
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Fluoridation does NOT reduce the number of general anaesthetic oral surgeries on pre-school children with severe tooth decay
CHILDSMILE CUT NUMBER OF SURGERIES IN HALF
General anesthetic surgeries on pre-school children with severe dental decay are NOT performed more in non-fluoridated areas. In fact, DHB surgery records show the fluoridated area of Taranaki is in an oral health crisis.
Shockingly, while fluoridated Hawera has less than one-sixth of the population of non-fluoridated New Plymouth, it has a frightening THIRTY TIMES higher rate of children’s general anaesthetic surgeries for severe dental decay than non-fluoridated New Plymouth.
Taranaki | Total Number of GA surgeries for Age 5 children: 2012, 2013, 2014 (fluoridation stopped in New Plymouth in 2011) | Population | Number of Age 5 children | Percentage of Age 5 children having GA surgery for severe tooth decay |
Fluoridated Hawera | 34 | 11,600 | 208 | 16.35% |
Non-fluoridated New Plymouth | 7 | 74,100 | 800 | 00.88% |
Note: New Plymouth stopped fluoridation in 2011 and GA surgeries have not increased.
Note: New Plymouth stopped fluoridation in 2011 and GA surgeries have not increased.
Hutt Valley DHB has had an average of 44 age five children per year over the last decade who required GA oral surgery. Severe tooth decay is caused by poverty, sugar, and lack of resources. DHB statistics from around New Zealand, show it is NOT related to fluoridation.
Each child’s general anesthetic oral surgery costs $4,000 in New Zealand. There are an estimated 5000 performed here every year, costing $20 million, nationwide.
Glasgow researchers found that CHILDSMILE reduced the cost of treating childhood dental disease by more than half between 2001 and 2010. CHILDSMILE saves teeth, saves pain, and saves money.
Nationwide in NZ, we currently spend approximately:
$20 million on pre-school GA oral surgeries
$1 million on fluoride chemicals
Hundreds of thousands or more promoting, defending, maintenance and staffing for fluoridation
If NZ implements CHILDSMILE nationwide, we will save more than $10.5 million a year by:
Reducing GA surgeries, potentially by half
Not wasting $$ on fluoridation
When councils call a moratorium on fluoridation, they have the option to offer support or funds to local DHBs for a transition to CHILDSMILE. Unlike fluoridation, CHILDSMILE is really helping children, especially those who need it most.
When councils call a moratorium on fluoridation, they have the option to offer support or funds to local DHBs for a transition to CHILDSMILE. Unlike fluoridation, CHILDSMILE is really helping children, especially those who need it most.
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Extensive information about CHILDSMILE is available: http://www.child-smile.org.uk/
Scottish National Dental Inspection Programme statistics: http://www.scottishdental.org/?s=NDIP
New Zealand Ministry of Health school dental statistics: http://www.health.govt.nz/nz-health-statistics
Fluoride Free New Zealand PO Box 40, Featherston, NZ Phone 027 361 5951