From the busy-bodies who are killing off NHS dentists... clean your teeth with New Labour

The long arm of the nanny state is reaching out again - and this time it's holding a toothbrush.

Ministers have announced the Government's latest attempt to interfere in family life, telling parents how to brush their children's teeth.

A multi-million pound campaign will give advice such as "hold the brush at a 45 degree angle against the gumline" and "eating cheese after a meal can help reduce the risk of tooth decay".

The toothbrush campaign was introduced at the end of a week which has seen the announcement of plans to target problem children before they are even born - a scheme nicknamed FASBOs, foetal anti-social behaviour orders.

The Brushing for Life campaign was greeted with ridicule.

Jill Kirby, of the Right-leaning Centre for Policy Studies think-tank, said: "When will they drop this nonsense, save the taxpayer some money, and let parents get on with bringing up their children?"

But ministers said that efforts to get children in poor areas to clean their teeth could produce "major improvements in oral health".

Health Minister Rosie Winterton said: "Behaviour we learn as children on diet and dental hygiene lasts all our lives.

"Learning the importance of brushing your teeth well when you are young means you are less likely to suffer from bad oral health when you are older."

The latest advice comes at a time when the Government is failing to provide NHS dentists for millions of children. A new contract system was introduced early this year to try to end the shortage of dentists.

A £1.2million trial scheme has already seen extra staff hired to give away toothpaste and train health visitors.

Primary Care Trusts and Colgate, which developed the scheme with Health Department officials, will bear the costs of the project.

Parents will be given a special pack when they visit a health clinic or Sure Start centre - one of the help projects that cost £3billion but which critics say have failed to improve the lives of the poor families they are aimed at.

The pack will contain toothpaste, a toothbrush and a leaflet with advice on oral hygiene.

Tory MP Sir Paul Beresford - who is also a dentist - said: "It is incredibly rich for this Government to be offering children advice when they won't give them dentists."