Children’s Dental Health is Improving in Barnsley
New figures show that standards of oral health among Barnsley’s children are improving.
Statistics from Public Health England show a marked improvement in the oral health of 5 year olds in the borough.
Although the rate of decay is higher than the national average, the proportion of children suffering from decay has fallen in the last three years. The average number of decayed teeth per child has fallen from 1.6 to 1.1. The national average is 0.8.
The figures also revealed that Barnsley has gone from being fourth to tenth on the list of highest rates of decay in sixteen local boroughs.
Despite the positive news, there is still a way to go in Barnsley. The obvious aim is for all 5 year old children to be free from decay. The publication of the findings coincides with National Smile Month, a campaign run by the Oral Health Foundation. The aim of this campaign is to get people thinking about how they could improve their oral health. They key messages encourage the public to brush twice a day, visit their dentist regularly and try to reduce their sugar intake. Over the next week or so, as the campaign draws to a close, practices all over the country will be hosting events to raise awareness and encourage patients to adopt positive oral health habits.
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