Victoria Atkins claims Labour does not trust parents to brush children’s teeth after criticism of Tory NHS dental plan – UK politics live

Health secretary defends Conservative NHS dental recovery plan after scathing response from the British Dental Association

Good morning. Labour has been campaigning hard recently on the dire state of NHS dentistry, which is near-impossible to access to many places, and today the government is responding by publicising its own NHS dental recovery plan. The British Dental Association has been scathing about it. It is normal, with a government initiative like this, for the relevant to professional body to say that it is a step in the right direction but does not go far enough etc. But, in its response, the BDA does not even bother with the usual niceties. It is wholly critical, saying the plan is “incapable of even beginning to honour Rishi Sunak’s promise to ‘restore’ NHS dentistry, or in any way meet the government’s stated ambition to provide access to NHS dentistry for ‘all who need it’”.

Aletha Adu and Tobi Thomas have the story here.

Labour seems to think that no parent can be trusted to brush their children’s teeth. We do not take that approach. We say the overwhelming majority of parents do a great job looking after their children.

For those children that are struggling, this is where the fluoride brushing dental teams into reception class...really counts because we are targeting it very, very particularly on areas where there are high, high rates of oral ill health.

The plan will also see the government roll out a new ‘Smile For Life’ programme which will see parents and parents-to-be offered advice for baby gums and milk teeth, with the aim that by the time children go to school, every child will see tooth brushing as a normal part of their day.