Cornwall Launches New Programmes to Combat Rising Childhood Dental Issues

Cornwall Council, in a groundbreaking partnership with Smile Together Dental CIC and Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, has announced the introduction of three new programmes aimed at tackling the surge in oral health problems among children in Cornwall.

This strategic move comes in response to the alarming revelation of an 83% rise in caries-related tooth extractions in hospitals for children aged 0 to 19 years over the last year.

A Trio of Oral Health Programmes

At the heart of this endeavour is the Smarter Smiles programme, designed to promote oral health education and provide Fluoride Varnish applications. This programme, targeting schools and nurseries in high tooth decay regions, aims to embed a holistic approach to oral health, extending the successful blueprint of the Brighter Smiles campaign. Smarter Smiles not only focuses on young children but also aims to make a lasting impact on the oral health of children and adults with additional needs.

First Dental Steps represents the second pillar of this initiative, where Health Visitors will guide families on tooth-brushing techniques for infants aged 9 to 12 months. The final strand of this comprehensive approach is the distribution of free oral health packs to approximately 7,500 two-year-olds across Cornwall, facilitated by the generous support of Smile Together and Go Cornwall Bus Company.

The Vision for Healthier Futures

Andy, Cabinet Member for Public Health at Cornwall Council, highlighted the critical nature of this project, stating, “Tooth decay remains the top cause for hospital admissions among 6 to 10-year-olds, a deeply preventable condition. Our partnership’s launch of these programmes couldn’t be timelier, aiming to safeguard the oral health of Cornish children from as young as nine months, laying the groundwork for healthier futures.”

Echoing this sentiment, Alison, Outreach Manager at Smile Together, underscored the positive impact anticipated from the expanded Smarter Smiles programme, building on the legacy of the Brighter Smiles initiative. Since its inception in 2015, this programme has significantly enhanced the oral health of thousands of children in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Supporting Early Dental Care

The First Dental Steps scheme, a pioneering venture led by national Health Visitors in collaboration with NHS England, focuses on infants’ oral health. Approximately 5,000 children born in Cornwall each year will benefit from this scheme, receiving oral health packs filled with age-appropriate toothbrushes, sippy cups, and essential oral health guidance.

Complementing these efforts, Smile Together and Go Cornwall Bus’s joint endeavour to provide oral health packs for every two-year-old in Cornwall is poised to bridge the gap between the First Dental Steps and Smarter Smiles programmes, ensuring a seamless oral health pathway for children up to five years of age.

Mark, Commercial Director at Go South West, expressed enthusiasm about contributing to this vital cause, emphasising the importance of ensuring every two-year-old in Cornwall receives an oral health pack as part of a comprehensive approach to children’s oral health.

For more information about the Smarter Smiles programme and its impact on the oral health of Cornwall’s children, visit the official website here.