Teachers giving out toothpaste, as cost of living crisis bites
Teachers are giving out toothpaste and toothbrushes at school, as the cost of living crisis hits families.
A new survey revealed that 80% of teachers have given students toothpaste or a toothbrush. Over 80% believe there are kids at school who don’t have access to basic oral hygiene products and 41% suggest children can end up being excluded and isolated as a result.
The research, from hygiene poverty charity Beauty Banks and the British Dental Association (BDA), showed that 75% of teachers said that children who don’t have access to oral hygiene products have discoloured teeth. Half of those surveyed said they had students with visible signs of tooth decay and a third had pupils with bad breath or dental pain.
The survey indicates the impact of rising living costs. Inflation rates are falling but they are still very high at over 10% and every household is feeling the effects. Fuel prices have come down but energy bills have soared, the cost of food and drink has skyrocketed and other products, such as clothing and hygiene products, are also more expensive.
A quarter of the teachers surveyed said they had sleepless nights because they were worried about some of their students and 40% said they felt helpless.
The survey involved 260 teachers from state secondary schools. One assistant head teacher from Lewisham said that some pupils are choosing to wear masks so that other students don’t see their teeth. At the same school, the lead for safeguarding said they had received multiple calls from parents who were worried about being able to afford essential hygiene products. There have also been reports of an increase in bullying related to poor oral health.
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