CHILDREN throughout the borough will be getting their teeth into new free dental care kits designed especially for them.

Bury and Rochdale Health Authority has received a slice of a £1 million government hand-out to provide free toothbrushes and toothpaste to children as part of a new scheme.

The initiative is part of the Government's dental strategy, which sets out to ensure that, by 2003, five-year-olds should have on average no more than one decayed, missing or filled tooth with 70 per cent of five-year-olds experiencing no tooth decay at all.

It is hoped that the "Brushing for Life" project will meet this commitment by targeting the 21 health authorities with the highest levels of dental decay, 11 in the North West, five in Yorkshire and five in London. As part of the scheme health visitors will give out free packs including a toothbrush, toothpaste and leaflets to the parents and carers of young children; demonstrate correct toothbrushing techniques and give oral health talks in nurseries and playgroups.

The packs will be given out during the usual health development checks at eight months; 18 months and three years.

Health Minister Hazel Blears said: "The Government is determined to tackle oral health inequalities.

"Most recent figures show that more than 60 per cent of five-year-olds now experience no tooth decay at all. This is excellent news, but research also shows that, in some deprived areas, children can experience three times the amount of dental decay compared with children from more affluent areas.

"This is unacceptable when both dental decay and gum disease are avoidable simply by encouraging young children to develop the habit of brushing their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

"Regular brushing not only helps people maintain stronger and whiter teeth but also improves the number of years people spend free from illness."

The scheme will run for three years.