Under-fives were given a regular tooth-brushing regime

The scheme involves replacing sugary snacks with milk and fruit and a regular tooth-brushing regime.

After just two years, the number of under-fives in the pilot area with no cavities has risen from 10% to 30%.

Glasgow has one of the worst dental health records in Western Europe. The health board said the results were akin to introducing fluoride to the water.

NHS Greater Glasgow was in favour of putting fluoride in the water in an effort to reduce tooth decay.

However, public opposition to fluoridation led it to establish a number of pilot schemes in the most deprived areas.

The children are very good at picking these things up about what is good or bad for your teeth Amanda Kelly Clutha Day Nursery

Every child brushes their teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least once a day under the supervision of nursery nurses and sugary drinks have been cut out.

Head nursery teacher Amanda Kelly, of the Clutha Day Nursery in Kinning Park, Glasgow, said snack-time for the children was a tray of chocolate bars when she started in the post three years ago.

However, the children were now encouraged to eat fruit and healthy snacks to help protect their teeth.

Ms Kelly said: "It's also about trying to educate them on when to brush their teeth because children do have sugary snacks in the house. They are very good at picking these things up about what is good or bad for your teeth."

Fluoride debate

When the children have finished their snacks, the toothbrush bus is brought out. It is a specially-made washable toy which holds individually named toothbrushes for each child.

Ms Kelly said she had noticed a difference since the scheme had been introduced, with many of the children having "lovely teeth" and a greater emphasis placed on them having milk or water rather than fizzy drinks.

Some children brushed their teeth twice a day in the nursery, she added.

The city health board's director of public health, Linda de Caestaker, said while it had not compared the merits of the scheme with having fluoride in the water, the results were "encouraging".

She added: "But it's by tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste so people are getting fluoride through a different route.

"It would still be a very effective public health intervention to have fluoridation in the water and these interventions have to be across the whole population."