Paediatric oral health resources for professionals
Stats and Facts
- Tooth decay is the most common oral disease affecting children and young people in England. It is preventable.
- 24% of 5 year old children have tooth decay and have on average 3 teeth affected. This figure rises to 29% across Yorkshire and the Humber.
- 11% of 3 year olds have visible tooth decay with an average of 3 teeth affected.
- Some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people (including isolated groups such as young carers and military families) may have more significant oral health problems.
- Tooth decay is the most common reason for hospital admissions for children aged 5 to 9 years.
Resources
Delivering better oral health. This is an evidence based toolkit to support dental teams in improving both oral and general health within the population.
Child oral health: Applying all our health. This guide for child oral health is part of ‘All Our Health’, a resource which helps health and care professionals prevent ill health and promote wellbeing as part of their everyday practice.
Improving oral health for children and young people. Useful tips, facts, infographics and oral health related statistics for health visitors, school nurses and practice nurses.
Toothbrushing demonstration
Some health professionals may be required to demonstrate the correct tooth brushing technique for children and babies. The video below, developed by the Leeds School of Dentistry, is designed to guide your toothbrushing demonstrations and is aimed at healthcare visitors. It describes effective toothbrushing demonstrations to parent and carers of babies aged 1 to 2.
HABIT Training
HABIT supports Health Visitors, and their wider team, to have effective oral health conversations with parents of young infants. It is underpinned by robust behaviour change theory (including systematic reviews, qualitative interviews, intervention mapping and community engagement).
We continue to undertake research in this area, and are exploring the value of different training approaches, as well as upskilling nursery nurses within the Health Visiting team to undertake oral health champion roles.
For further information, please have a look at our website or get in touch:
University of Leeds, School of Dentistry.