Town's plan to reduce high rate of tooth extractions

Families from underserved communities in Swindon are being taught good oral hygiene habits by dental specialists.

A council project aims to reduce tooth extractions in the town especially for under fives, who are nearly three times more likely to have teeth removed than others across 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.

Labour has pledged to reform the national dental contract and provide an extra 700,000 urgent dental appointments.

Families attending sessions include migrants from Sri Lanka, Africa, India, Iran, Afghanistan and Ukrainian refugees

With disproportionate numbers of tooth extractions in Swindon, the project aimed to address disparities in oral health outcomes from underserved communities.

These included families experiencing poverty and homelessness, migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking families, as well as children with special needs and those from South Asian communities.

As well as teaching families good oral hygiene habits, they also receive a toothbrushing pack, whilst high risk families are signposted to dental access centres for urgent care.

Swindon Borough Council's Early Years Oral Health Inequalities initiative is a partnership with dental nurses from Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

12-year-old, Zlata, had to return to Ukraine for dental treatment

Ukranian refugee, 12-year old Zlata, attended a session with her family she said "I learned a lot.

"We're trying to find a dentist but we can't find [one].

"I had problem with my teeth and I went to the Ukraine with my mum and brother.

"They did my teeth fully."

The initiative is a partnership between Swindon Borough Council and dental nurses from Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Fareen Mohammed arrived from Sri Lanka with her two sons and said: "I haven't been to any dentist for my kids.

"Today I learnt a lot and my kids has learnt they have to take care of their own tooth.

"We have a form with a QR code it's really easy to register for support.

"Thank you so much."

Steve Maddern, Director of Public Health at Swindon Borough Council

Swindon Borough Council's Director for Public Health, Steve Maddern, said that "oral health in the town isn't great" and although the town's diversity was "wonderful" there were "bigger challenges" amongst migrant families.

The initiative formed part of Swindon Borough Council’s commitment to Build a Fairer Swindon.

Mr Maddern said: "Tackling oral health is a key part of our programme.

"It is a national issue around having access to dentistry which is why oral health is more important than ever to try and prevent disease."

Mr Maddern said: "Hopefully we can reduce the number of extractions we're seeing in the under fives."

The initiative has reached more than 200 local parents and children across differing community groups, with plans to expand to more locations in the coming months.