Teresa Pearce MP is supporting the “Dental Check by one” campaign which seeks to promote good dental habits for children and families across Erith and Thamesmead.
In the UK, over 141 children per day, some just a year old, are having teeth removed in hospital.
Whilst the level of tooth decay amongst young children in England has continued to improve, with over 75% of 5 year-old children now decay free, extraction of decayed teeth remains the most common reason for hospital admissions in 5 to 9 year olds in England, despite being largely preventable.
The local figures for Greenwich and Bexley
In the Bexley, 14.4% of 5 year olds had experience tooth decay in 2017. For the Greenwich this figure was 22.2%. According to figures provided by NHS England, for NHS Bexley CCG only 9.59% of children under the age of 24 months had visited a NHS dentist in 2017/18. This figure was 11.94% for children under 24 months in NHS Greenwich CCG.
Starting good dental habits early and ensuring the all-important first dental check by a baby’s first birthday – ‘Dental Check by One’ – will contribute to a child’s best start in life. Regular early-years dental attendance gives children the opportunity to develop a positive lifelong-relationship with a dental team, who can nurture a whole range of healthy behaviours.
Teresa Pearce MP said:
“It is important to instil the values of good dental hygiene in children early, to prevent problems in later life. The Dental Check by One campaign encourages parent/s to take their baby’s for their first dental check-up when their first tooth appears. Starting regular preventive dental care early gives infants the opportunity to develop a positive lifelong-relationship with the dental team.”
N.B NHS dental care is free for children <18 years.
For more information on the campaign, please visit the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry’s website: https://www.bspd.co.uk/Patients/Dental-Check-by-One
