Shouldn the NHS just focus on making sure that everyone has a proper diet, avoids sugary food and brushes their teeth twice a day?
Research shows that using toothpastes containing fluoride and reducing sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes prevents tooth decay. It would seem logical that it would be easy to reduce dental decay by encouraging people to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste and advising them not to eat sugar. However, in common with other health promotion messages such as stopping smoking and increasing exercise, people do not always choose to take the healthy option. Others such as children and vulnerable adults are reliant on others for their care. Research shows that not all of the population brush their teeth effectively with fluoride toothpaste and limit their sugar consumption, and few change their behaviour to adopt health living messages, despite community oral health education, education in schools and dental practices encouraging them to do so. Fluoridation of water ensures that everyone receives preventive care.
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