A proposal to introduce fluoridated milk to over 8,000 children in Blackpool to help reduce the risk of dental caries was approved by Blackpool Council's Executive on 18 January. The milk, which is recommended by the World Health Organisation,1 is the latest in Blackpool Council's plans to tackle poor dental hygiene amongst children in the town. Figures show that almost half of 12-year-olds in the town have at least one decayed, missing or filled tooth – much higher than the national average of 33%.

Around 400 children in Blackpool are also admitted to hospital every year to have teeth extracted under general anaesthetic, at a cost to the NHS of thousands of pounds.

Councillor Graham Cain, Cabinet Secretary for Blackpool Council, said: ‘Through a number of methods such as education in schools and children's centres, as well as giving away toothbrushes and toothpaste to children, we have managed to raise awareness of the importance of oral hygiene amongst Blackpool families.

‘However, where some parts of the country can benefit from fluoride naturally appearing in their daily drinking water, in Blackpool we cannot.

‘What we do have is a method through the free breakfast programme that allows us to reach all primary school children as they are growing up and make the fluoride milk available to them there. The scheme will be available to all primary school children but parents will have the option to opt out if they wish.

Michaela ONeill, President of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT), said of the decision: ‘It is great that the local council has recognised that something needs to be done to address this huge problem and taken positive action.

‘Other areas with similar levels of oral health problems have already introduced such schemes and this is an opportunity to show other councils that with a small, inexpensive change huge benefits can be had.’

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