Children under 10 can now get access to a new free dental treatment thanks to an initiative by NHS Islington.

The new scheme, which started this month , involves specialist dental teams heading to 34 schools, nurseries and children’s centres around the borough to provide free fluoride varnish to kids aged between three and 10.

The varnish is a coating painted on teeth to reduce tooth decay and while children are under 10 they can receive two treatments a year free of charge.

Islington has one of the highest levels of tooth decay among young children in the country.

Despite this, a third of the borough’s kids don’t visit the dentist for regular check-ups, even though they are free for children, and NHS Islington is encouraging the mantra: “first tooth = first visit”.

For more information call 0203 317 2341 or for a full list of participating centres, see below:

St John’s Upper Holloway, Junction Road, Archway

St Mary’s Primary School, Fowler Road, Islington

Ashmount Primary School, Ashmount Road, Archway

Drayton Park Primary School, Arvon Road, Highbury

Thornhill Primary School, Thornhill Road, Barnsbury

St Andrew’s Primary School, Matilda Street, Barnsbury

St John the Evangelist Primary School, Duncan Street, Islington

St Mark’s Primary School, Sussex Way, Upper Holloway

Tufnell Park Primary School, Dalmeny Road, Tufnell Park

Grafton Primary School, Eburne Road, Holloway

Clerkenwell Parochial Primary School, Amwell St, Finsbury

Sacred Heart Primary School, George’s Road, Holloway

Ambler Primary School, Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park

St Jude’s and St Paul’s Primary School, Kingsbury Road, Dalston

Hungerford Primary School Hungerford Road, Holloway

Hugh Myddelton Primary School, Myddelton Street, Clerkenwell

Montem Primary School, Hornsey Road, Holloway

Robert Blair Primary School, Brewery Road, Holloway

St Luke’s Primary School, Radnor Street, Finsbury

Newington Green Primary School, Newington Green

Blessed Sacrament Primary School, Boadicea St, Kings Cross

Laycock Primary School, Laycock Street, Islington

Vittoria Primary School, Half Moon Crescent, Barnsbury

Christ the King Primary School, Tollington Park, Crouch Hill

Winton Primary School, Killick Street, Kings Cross

Hargrave Park Primary School, Bredgar Road, Archway

Rotherfield Primary School, Rotherfield Street, Islington

Highbury Quadrant Primary School, Highbury New Park, Highbury

Moreland Primary School, Moreland Street, Finsbury

Copenhagen Primary School, Treaty Street, Kings Cross

Pakeman Primary School, Hornsey Road, Holloway

New North Community School, Popham Road, Islington

Pooles Park Primary School, Lennox Road, Finsbury Park

Duncombe Primary School, Susex Road, Upper Holloway