Oral Health in the Isle of Man

Steps the Government is taking

Recommendations for oral health

In response to the Report of the Social Affairs Policy Review Committee (SAPRC), the Council of Ministers made a series of amended recommendations, which were endorsed by Tynwald, with the aim of reducing tooth decay and dental caries in children in the Isle of Man.

Public Health are working on the following recommendations:

Smile of Mann relaunch in nurseries, pre-schools and school years Reception and Year 1
Exploring the fluoridation of water as a public health intervention
Combining the implementation of two similar strategies - Oral Health Strategy (Public Health) and Dental Strategy (DHSC)
Public Health to undertake a campaign targeted at parents and carers to improve information about access to dental care, and appropriate home dental care
Public Health to investigate strategies to improve the dentist experience for children

Combining the implementation of two similar strategies - Oral Health Strategy (Public Health) and Dental Strategy (DHSC)

Following the Public Health Oral Health Needs Assessment, we developed a strategy for improving the oral health of children aged 0 – 11 years on the Isle of Man. This Implementation Plan is to be amalgamated with the Dental Strategy implementation plan. This was laid before Tynwald in October 2023 and replaces the two individual strategies in order to avoid duplication of work, and encourage greater collaboration between government departments.

View the Amalgamated Implementation Plan on the Tynwald Register of Business

Smile of Mann relaunch in nurseries, pre-schools and school years Reception and Year 1

In 2018, Public Health launched Smile of Mann, a supervised toothbrushing programme for all nurseries and pre-schools in the Isle of Man, with the aim of helping towards improving the oral health of young children here. Smile of Mann was set up as an optional programme that all nurseries and pre-schools were able to take part in, free of charge. In September 2022, the programme was opened up to all Reception and Year 1 classes of the Island’s primary schools, although only three schools signed-up.

The recommendations suggested that Smile of Mann is relaunched from September 2023, with the intention of participation being advised to all nurseries and pre-schools, and being delivered more widely across school years Reception and Year 1.

The programme will be evaluated in October 2024 to determine if it has been successful in developing healthy routines and any impact it has had on the oral health of 5 year olds in the Isle of Man.