More than one million children in the north of England and London are to be given free toothbrushes and toothpaste over the next three years. The 'Brushing for life' project is targeting the 21 health authorities with the highest levels of tooth decay - 11 in the north-west of England, five in Yorkshire and five in London. Its aim is to ensure that by 2003 70 per cent of five-year-old children have no tooth decay at all and that the others have on average no more than one decayed, missing or filled tooth. The packs will be distributed by health visitors to the parents and carers of young children at health checks.
More than one million children in the north of England and London are to be given free toothbrushes and toothpaste over the next three years. The 'Brushing for life' project is targeting the 21 health authorities with the highest levels of tooth decay - 11 in the north-west of England, five in Yorkshire and five in London. Its aim is to ensure that by 2003 70 per cent of five-year-old children have no tooth decay at all and that the others have on average no more than one decayed, missing or filled tooth. The packs will be distributed by health visitors to the parents and carers of young children at health checks.