Healthcare (Commonwealth Union) – A new report calls on the government to address England‘s child oral health crisis by implementing measures such as banning energy drinks for those under 16, expanding sugar taxes, and introducing a toothbrushing programme.
Published on Friday, 13 September 2024, by Child of the North—Anne Longfield’s Centre for Young Lives think tank—alongside researchers from the University of Sheffield’s School of Clinical Dentistry, the report also suggests steps to reduce children’s sugar intake, improve access to dental care among others.
Titled An Evidence-Based Plan for Improving Children’s Oral Health Through Educational Settings, the report urges the new government to create a national child oral health strategy. It highlights the widespread issue of tooth decay affecting millions of young people across England, significantly impacting their quality of life. If left untreated, it can lead to pain, disrupted sleep, altered eating habits, and hinder the development of speech and language. Poor oral health can also diminish self-esteem and prevent children from reaching their full developmental potential.
There is also evidence indicating that even when considering different levels of tooth decay, children living in deprived areas experience a greater impact from the condition.
Zoe Marshman, co-author of the report and Professor of Dental Public Health at the University of Sheffield, indicated that tooth decay treatment is the leading reason young children—over 33,000 each year are admitted to hospital, costing the NHS more than £40 million annually.
She further pointed out that in some of the most disadvantaged areas, up to half of five-year-olds suffer from tooth decay, causing pain and distress. It affects their diet, speech, sleep, overall quality of life, and even their school attendance.
Marshman indicated that this report highlights the significant effects of poor dental health on children’s lives and calls for a new national strategy to address these pressing issues.
This report is the eighth in the 2024 series from Child of the North and the Centre for Young Lives, focusing on how the new Government can prioritize young people’s futures in its policies and actions.
It highlights the alarming severity of the oral health crisis among children, especially in the North of England. It urges the new Government to create and implement a national child oral health improvement strategy aimed at enhancing children’s dental health and addressing social inequalities, particularly for young people in the North. A national board, consisting of representatives from government departments, local authorities, dental organizations, universities, specialist societies, charities, and citizen representatives, would oversee this strategy.
Anne Longfield, the head of the Centre for Young Lives, indicated that it is astonishing that numerous children, especially in the North of England and those from low-income households, are presently developing dental issues and experiencing toothaches. She further pointed out that it can impact their overall well-being, causing disruptions in sleep, eating habits, and affecting their ability to attend school, speak clearly, and develop self-assurance. In certain regions, it has tragically become commonplace.
“Many children are not only missing out on NHS dental healthcare but are more likely to suffer tooth decay from a younger age.
“The Government’s proposals for a programme of supervised teeth-brushing in schools is a positive step forward, as is its overall focus on boosting children’s wellbeing.
Paula Waterhouse, President of the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry, indicated that this report highlights how greater deprivation and unmet dental needs are disproportionately affecting children and young people in the North of England compared to those in the South.
Waterhouse also indicated that it is crucial to develop a comprehensive oral health strategy for children and young people across England. The wealth of evidence from current oral health research should guide the government’s approach in shaping and executing both national and local policies.
