Families from underserved communities in Swindon are being taught good oral hygiene habits by specialist dentists.
A council project aims to reduce tooth extraction in the city, especially for under-fives, who are almost three times more likely to have teeth removed than others in the South West.
With a national shortage of NHS dental appointments, the council said oral health awareness was “more important than ever” to prevent disease.
Labor has pledged to reform the national dental contract and provide an extra 700,000 emergency dental appointments.
With a disproportionate number of tooth exports in Swindon, the project aimed to address differences in oral health outcomes from underserved communities.
These included families experiencing poverty and homelessness, families of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, as well as children with special needs and those from South Asian communities.
In addition to teaching families good oral hygiene habits, they also receive a toothbrushing package, while high-risk families are flagged down to dental access centers for urgent care.
Swindon Borough Council’s Early Years Oral Health Inequalities initiative is a partnership with dentists from Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Ukrainian refugee, 12-year-old Zlata, attended a session with her family and said: “I learned a lot.
“We’re trying to find a dentist but we can’t find one [one].
“I had a problem with my teeth and I went to Ukraine with my mom and brother.
“My teeth were completely done.”
Fareen Mohammed arrived from Sri Lanka with her two sons and said: “I have not been to any dentist for my children.
“Today I learned a lot and my children learned that they should take care of their teeth.
“We have a form with a QR code and it’s very easy to sign up for support.
“Thank you very much”.
Swindon Borough Council’s Director of Public Health, Steve Maddern, said “oral health in the town is not great” and while the diversity of the town was “wonderful”, there were “bigger challenges” among migrant families.
The initiative was part of Swindon Council’s commitment to building a fairer Swindon.
Mr Maddern said: “Tackling oral health is a key part of our programme.
“It’s a national issue about dental access, and that’s why oral health is more important than ever to prevent disease.”
Mr Maddern said: “Hopefully we can get the number of exports we’re seeing down to under five.”
The initiative has reached more than 200 local parents and children in different community groups, with plans to expand to more locations in the coming months.
