Kids to be Offered Fluoride Varnishing

School children will be offered twice-yearly applications of fluoride varnish as part of the expansion of the Smile of Mann.

All primary school children from reception to Year 6 will be offered the varnishing.

In addition to the varnishing, the dental survey of the island’s five-year-olds will now include 12-year-olds on alternate years.

New parents will now see oral health resources for weaning and baby teeth care provided to new parents through health visitors.

Smile of Mann

The Smile of Mann Supervised Toothbrushing Programme secured additional funding for expansion from Public Health.

It aims to improve children’s oral health through healthy toothbrushing and eating habits.

The programme could prevent 130 children from developing tooth decay each year.

More Offered

The expanded service will also decrease the number of children needing general anaesthetic for tooth extractions. 

The Smile of Mann programme was recently extended to include children in Reception, Year 1, and Specialist Provision Centres. 

Initially funded on a temporary basis, the programme now has funding for 18 months.

From April it will cover more early years settings, primary schools, and Specialist Provision Centres across the island.

To support the expanded programme a team of dental nurses and oral health improvement officers will be appointed to continue to work with schools, early years settings and parents.