Scottish schoolchildren are smiling at the news they are enjoying the best oral health since records began.

The National Dental Inspection Programme (NDIP) has reported that seven NHS Boards have now reached or exceeded the national dental target set by the Scottish Government for 2010.

NHS Highland, Orkney, Tayside and Shetland have all surpassed the target set them, with at least 60% of primary one pupils showing no obvious signs of dental decay in their first teeth.

Welcoming the survey's outcome, dental health chief Martyn Merrett said: "This is the fourth survey of five-year-old children since 2003 and it continues to show that dental health in this age group is steadily improving.

"This result is the best level of dental health for P1 children in Scotland ever achieved since records began."

The survey uncovered that children from poorer backgrounds are still more likely to suffer dental problems, but noted even for the most disadvantaged there was still an improvement.

Mr Merrett added: "The results continue to identify a continuing strong association between social deprivation and dental disease, with those in the least deprived areas having fewer teeth affected by dental decay than those in more deprived areas.

"However, it is particularly encouraging to see in this report that dental health has improved across all areas with the biggest gains being seen in areas where deprivation is at its worst."

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said the results are proof of the progress being made in Scotland, but said more still needs to be done.

"With progress uneven across the country, there's clearly more work to be done to make sure that all boards are reaching and beating the target set for 2010.

"I expect those boards not yet reaching next year's target to redouble their efforts and those already above 60 per cent to maintain their achievement and strive for even further improvement."