Giving children the chance

Oral health is key to overall health and wellbeing, especially for children. Poor oral health can lead to a range of problems, such as pain when eating, general discomfort, swelling, and even malnutrition. These issues don’t just affect the child—parents and carers often need to take time off work for dental or hospital visits, or to care for a child who’s missed school. On top of that, oral health problems can make it hard for children to speak, learn, and fully engage in daily life because they’re distracted by the pain.

Dental caries is one of the most common yet preventable diseases worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Oral Health Status Report highlights that oral diseases affect close to 3.5bn people globally, with three out of four of those affected living in middle-income countries. It’s estimated that 2bn people worldwide have caries in their permanent teeth, while 514m children experience caries in their baby teeth. In the UK, tooth decay is still a big issue amongst children, with clear differences based on where they live and their family’s financial situation.