Fluoride varnish to be painted on to children's teeth

Children in the trial will have fluoride varnish painted onto their teeth

Children taking part in a new health initiative in the Lothians will have their milk teeth painted with fluoride varnish in a bid to stop decay.

About 150 dentists have signed up to the Childsmile scheme to improve the oral health of the under fives.

The youngsters will have the varnish applied every six months and be monitored during regular check-ups.

Edinburgh dentist Ian Fenny said he backed the move to provide preventative treatment to stop teeth decay.

He added: "Bringing Childsmile into general dental practice is an important link in ensuring every child in Lothian from birth to school is not allowed to fall through the net of not being provided with any form of dental health education or preventative treatment.

"It will hopefully remove preconceived views that many parents have of dentists' surgeries; fears that are often relayed to the child."

The scheme forms a key part in a plan to protect the teeth of Lothian children from the time they are born until they leave primary school.

NHS Lothian's Robert Naysmith said: "Child dental health has been a problem for years - and sadly we are still doing general anaesthetic on children who are too young to go to school to remove decayed teeth.

"Encouraging the parents of very young children to register them with a dentist will bridge the gap between birth and nursery."