Children’s access to NHS dental services and rates of tooth decay remain alarmingly poor, experts say, despite recent government initiatives.
Analysis of the latest data by the Child of the North initiative offers cautious optimism but highlights the urgent need to expand and strengthen interventions to meet young people’s needs nationwide.
The report, Improving Children’s Oral Health Update: Integrated Health and Education Solutions, is the seventh in the Child of the North’s #ChildrenFirst campaign. It marks one year since the initiative exposed the unacceptable state of children’s oral health and proposed evidence-based solutions.
The update acknowledges government action over the past year, including the launch of a national supervised toothbrushing programme, plans to expand water fluoridation in the North East, consultation on extending the soft drinks industry levy, and bans on high-caffeine energy drinks for children and junk food advertising before 9pm.
Yet disparities remain stark. Children in England’s most deprived areas are more than three times as likely to be admitted to hospital for tooth extractions compared with those in affluent areas, and more than twice as likely to experience tooth decay.
Nationwide, 26.9% of five-year-olds have tooth decay. In West Yorkshire alone, nine schools lost 950 school days due to dental issues in one academic year.
Professor Peter Day of the University of Leeds, co-lead of the report, said the supervised toothbrushing programme has reached 240,000 children since its launch in March, with plans to expand to 600,000 in the most deprived areas.
“These are exciting times,” Professor Day said. “While disease levels remain stubbornly high, particularly among our most vulnerable children, the government has acted on our recommendations.
As we move into delivery mode, evaluating the impact of these policies is essential. Engagement from schools and nurseries will be critical to capture broader benefits, including attendance, school readiness, and attainment.”
Co-lead Professor Zoe Marshman, of the University of Sheffield, echoed the need for continued focus on reducing oral health inequalities and ensuring that interventions reach those most in need.
