Championing oral health in primary schools

Through bespoke training, CDS is delivering the oral health programme directly to primary schools that have been identified by the local Public Health team and the Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service - using data from the National Child Measurement Programme, Oral Health Survey of five-year-olds, and a high proportion of free school meals - as a measure of deprivation.

Overall, 23.4 per cent of five-year-old children in England have experienced obvious dental decay, according to the National Dental Epidemiology Programme Biennial Oral Health survey in 2019. Tooth decay is a serious health issue, with recent figures revealing that 43,000 children and young people had been admitted to hospital to have teeth that are unable to be saved removed under general anaesthetic. It affects children’s oral and general health, impacting their confidence, wellbeing and ability to take part in everyday activities such as attending nurseries and schools, yet it is preventable.