Oral health
Oral Health in Children
Did you know that by age 5, nearly half of all children in Tower Hamlets experience tooth decay which can lead to missed time at school and trips to hospital? In fact, tooth decay is the most common reason for hospital admissions in children aged 5 – 9 years for the removal of teeth under general anaesthetic.
The good news is that tooth decay is preventable. Supporting your child to brush their teeth with a fluoride toothpaste twice every day and taking them to the local dentist once a year will help to keep their teeth healthy.
Free toothbrush packs are available from Children and Family Centres and Health Visitors.
While it's not always easy to avoid sugary foods and drinks, supporting your child to reduce their sugar intake, especially at snack times, will mean they are much less likely to suffer tooth decay.
In Tower Hamlets, children in Reception and Year 1 are eligible for free fluoride varnish applications. This service is delivered through primary schools. To learn more about fluoride varnish and how it is applied during a visit, watch a short demonstration video . You can also watch the video translated into Bengali.
You can also access leaflets about the school fluoride varnish programme in both English and Bengali or find out more information on the NHS Kent website.
Does your child attend a Special School?
Special care dentistry is available to children and young people who attend a special school and have a social, psychological, learning or physical disability (who could need dental care to be adapted for them). They may also find it difficult to access mainstream dentistry. This includes patients with phobias or fears of dental care or those who need adapted surgeries that can manage patients in wheelchairs. To apply for access to this service, complete an online self-referral form or speak to a health professional about a referral.
If you would like to learn more about children’s oral health in Tower Hamlets and how we’re working to improve oral health, please see our Joint Strategic Needs Assessment on Children’s Oral Health.
Resources
The Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust offers a wide range of free oral health resources that are available for children, adults, carers, teachers, health professionals, and vulnerable groups, including children who are looked after or have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
These resources include leaflets, videos, and easy-to-follow guides to support good oral health at all ages and stages.