Global dental news: More UK schools to be asked to supervise toothbrushing

School and nursery staff in the most deprived areas of England will be asked to supervise young children while they brush their teeth, under a national toothbrushing programme.

Schemes are already running in some schools - but now dedicated central funding will reach the poorest areas where children are most at risk of tooth decay, the government says.

Dental experts said the move would "save children from pain and the NHS a fortune".

But the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) union said caution was needed to avoid shifting "what is ultimately a parental responsibility on to the burden on schools".  (all copy (c) BBC)