GB News presenter Ben Leo has hit out at "bad parents" who fail to teach their children proper oral hygiene as a new toothbrushing scheme is announced.
A new £11 million supervised toothbrushing scheme has been launched today across England's schools and nurseries.
The initiative, announced on Friday, March 7, targets children aged three to five in the most deprived areas of the country.
Children will be encouraged to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste under supervision in early years settings.
Ben Leo hit out at "bad parenting"
GB NEWS
Speaking on GB News, Ben said: "This scheme is costing the tax payer £11 million.
"People are saying that Nana and I are part of the nanny state, and so on but I argue that while we've got a problem with tooth decay the main issue is parents not being very good parents, to be frank.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- POLL OF THE DAY: Are irresponsible parents to blame for Britain's child dental problems? - VOTE NOW
- Norovirus warning: Britons urged to 'isolate for two days' as hospitalisations surge after winter bug outbreak
- NHS equality and diversity department said trans doctor had 'right' to use female changing room
"There are kids still going to school in nappies. While we've got that problem that we are spending £11 million teaching kids how to brush their teeth properly, in the absence of parents doing their jobs.
"This is going to save the NHS a lot of money in the future. And, by the way, it will help these innocent kids who don’t know any better."
Ben later added: "If it's not a parent problem, whose problem is it? I mean, the parents are responsible for the kids."
Director of policy and research at Parent Kind Frank Young explained: "I mean, nobody is saying that parents don't have responsibility for ensuring that their children brush their teeth at least once a day, twice a day.
"We do know that there's a really big problem with tooth decay among children in this country, and some parents clearly need a little bit more help than others."
The initiative, announced today, targets children aged three to five in the most deprived areas of the country.
Children will be encouraged to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste under supervision in early years settings.
The Department of Health and Social Care expects up to 600,000 children to participate in the programme.
Kids will be taught oral hygiene
PEXELSFunding will be made available from April, with schools able to voluntarily sign up to the scheme.
The campaign is a joint initiative from the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education.
The concerning statistics behind the initiative reveal a stark picture of children's oral health in England.
One in four children aged five have experienced tooth decay across the country. In more deprived areas, this figure rises to one in three children.
