Birmingham dentist says too many children have tooth decay, as national campaign is rolled out
Joe Wicks joins initiative to promote healthy brushing habits for children, as Birmingham dentist says they see "far too much" preventative tooth decay.
Birmingham dentist Anoup Nandra has raised serious concerns about persistent tooth decay among children amid the government's campaign to boost oral health.
The campaign, supported by the distribution of six million toothbrushes and toothpastes over the past year, aims to improve brushing habits at schools and nurseries with the help of fitness coach Joe Wicks.
The UK government partnered with Colgate-Palmolive to deliver toothbrushes through their Supervised Toothbrushing Programme, part of a broader effort to tackle health inequalities and prevent hospital admissions.
Despite this initiative, Nandra, Principal Dentist at Edgbaston Dental Centre, expressed frustration over the continuing prevalence of tooth decay, highlighting that much of it is preventable.
“Giving someone a toothbrush is a great start, but we also need to make sure children are actually brushing effectively, that parents understand the dietary factors involved, and that children can get access to regular dental care," he said.
He pointed out that the frequency of sugar exposure plays a significant role, as repeated acid attacks from bacteria can damage teeth if children snack or consume sugary drinks throughout the day.
He emphasised the need for parents to supervise their children to make sure they were brushing their teeth properly, while taking them to regular dentist check-ups, so a "small problem won't become a much bigger one."
The latest data from the NHS showed tooth decay as the most common reason five to nine year olds need hospital treatment - with 88 cases in the West Midlands last year.
Nandra said the pain from tooth decay can prevent children from eating and sleeping properly, or concentrating in school, with the most severe cases leading to children having multiple teeth removed.
"For a young child to have to go through that because of a disease, which in the vast majority of cases is preventable, is something that as a profession and a society we should all be working very hard to avoid,” he said.
The Supervised Toothbrushing Programme, now entering its second year, aims to instil good brushing habits and prevent oral health issues later in life.
Additional measures to support children's dental health include providing educational materials for families and additional government funding aimed at reducing sugar and salt in baby foods by February 2027.
Joe Wicks is joining the initiative to promote regular brushing, advocating for the importance of brushing for two minutes, twice a day.
Despite progress in brushing initiatives, Nandra noted the need for a holistic approach involving healthcare services, schools, and nurseries to enhance parental education and ensure children access regular dental care.
He said collaborative efforts are crucial to make “the healthy choice the easy choice” for families, thereby reducing the incidence of tooth decay and its impact on children's overall wellbeing.