Petition Improve Children’s Teeth by Mass Media Dental Health Adverts

Dental decay is the most chronic prevalent disease of childhood yet it is completely preventable with the correct dental health messages.

Dental decay detrimentally impacts on a child’s general health, physical development, impacts on socialisation and leads to a reduction in general health, wellbeing and quality of life.

Three very simple key messages can help to prevent unnecessary suffering for children caused by dental decay.

The key messages are:

• Be aware of hidden sugars, dental decay is caused by sugar in food and drinks.

• Use the correct toothpaste to prevent decay- fluoride content should be 1450 ppm

• Spit don’t rinse! Leave the fluoride toothpaste in contact with the teeth for as long as possible.

A social marketing campaign incorporating mass media adverts in between children’s television programmes could significantly raise awareness of the simple steps that can be taken to reduce dental decay.