LONDON, March 8 -- England yesterday launched a national campaign to teach children in schools and nurseries how to brush their teeth properly, as the nation grapples with a dental health crisis.

Up to six in 10 children in some deprived areas have rotting teeth by the age of five, according to official data.

Concern over the state of children's teeth comes amid a population-wide emergency in dental services that has seen people resorting to "Victorian-era" solutions such as pulling out their own teeth.

"1 in 5 five-year-olds have tooth decay in the UK," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on X as the scheme-expected to reach 600,000 children aged between three and five years-was rolled out.

The British Dental Association says around 12 ...