New Oral Health Plan for England

England's Acting Chief Dental Officer, Barry Cockcroft, launched the Oral Health Plan for England, Choosing Better Oral Health on 14 November. (A link to this document was not available at the time of writing).

The Oral Health Plan outlines a six step program that aims to improve oral health and reduce health inequalities. These six steps are:
- Fluoride. Increasing the use of fluoride will help prevent tooth decay;
- Improving diet and reducing sugar intake. Dental health will be improved by reducing the frequency and amount of added sugars consumed in line with the Government's target of 11% of food energy. Increasing the consumption of fruit and vegetables to at least five portions a day and promoting the use of sugar free medicines;
- Encouraging preventive dental care. Oral diseases are preventable; the new contractual arrangements for NHS dentistry will allow dentists to adopt a more preventive approach to dental care;
- Reducing smoking. Smoking is a significant risk factor for periodontal disease and oral cancer;
- Increasing early detection of mouth cancer. Raising awareness of mouth cancer will lead to early detection and a reduction in the high mortality rate;
- Reducing dental injuries. People playing contact sports should wear mouth shields.

England's Public Health Minister, Caroline Flint, drew attention to the importance of fluoridation as part of the strategy to improve oral health. She said, "Choosing Better Oral Health encourages people to take control of their oral health. In fact, the lifestyle changes advocated, such as cutting down on sugar and giving up smoking, will also benefit peoples' general health, while at a national level, greater use of fluoride offers the best prospect of reducing inequalities. This is why we have amended the legislation on the fluoridation of water to give people in areas with high levels of dental decay a real option of having their drinking water fluoridated."