New report highlights widespread dental issues in Middlesbrough
A shocking new report has revealed that some households in Middlesbrough don’t have access to a single toothbrush, with a third of the city’s children suffering from decay.
The new research highlights the gravity of dental problems in this part of the North East, with health workers so worried about the situation that they are considering launching a programme to hand out dental hygiene kits to families.
The latest figures show that 32.1% of children in Middlesbrough have at least one filled, missing or decayed tooth. This figure is far higher than the national average of 18.5%.
Children’s lead at Public Health South Tees, Rebecca Scott, said that the body is working to encourage parents to take advantage of free NHS dental services and treatments like fluoride varnish, but there is a real concern that some families don’t even own toothbrushes. In light of this, there are plans for health visitors to start handing out dental kits and the trust is working to improve education. Some parents don’t have natural teeth, and this impacts on confidence and communication, and health workers are trying to educate adults and urge them to do everything possible to reduce the risk of their children developing dental problems. Almost all cases of decay can be prevented with good oral hygiene, a healthy diet, and frequent dental checks.
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