Oral Health: Tooth extraction data for Doncaster

Doncaster has the highest amount of 6-10 year olds having tooth extractions due to dental decay in the country.

Letter from Laura Quinn - Public Health Improvement Coordinator;

 

You may have seen that Doncaster hit the headlines this week in relation to the number of our children attending hospital to have their teeth extracted. Unfortunately these headlines are factual, and Doncaster has the highest amount of 6-10 year olds having tooth extractions due to dental decay in the country.  

I am sure you will feel as disheartened by this news as we do within the Public Health team. I would like to take this opportunity to ask you to consider what healthy eating policies your setting has in place.

Following evidence based recommendations; our advice would be to offer children within your setting milk or water only. There is no need to provide a juice drink or to allow parents/carers to send their child with juices. These drinks whether sugar free or not, have a detrimental effect on our children’s teeth. Furthermore considering other types of foods that are served at the setting, and extending that further to include a healthy packed lunch policy could really help us to make the difference.

We all appreciate how difficult it is to implement change outside of the setting, but we are able to influence what happens within our settings.

As many of you know we also have the Healthy Living Health lives award, which supports settings in creating a healthier environment. There are a range of resources and links available here to support you promote good oral health, including;

- Funded Supervised Toothbrushing Clubs.

- Free Oral Health and Nutrition Training.

- Lesson Plans to teach children about the importance of dental hygiene

- Guidance on developing a policy for healthy eating in settings.

EarlyYears HealthyEating policy guide
Download (298KB - PDF)

- Information for parents on making swaps to reduce sugar.

- Guidance for parents about fluoride varnish for children.

- Links to the Change 4 Life Top Tips for Teeth campaign.

If you require any further advice in relation to oral health and healthy eating, please do not hesitate to contact the team.

 

 

  • Category: General
Last updated: 08 March 2019 10:55:45

Get in touch

healthylearning@doncaster.gov.uk

Civic Office
Waterdale
Doncaster
South Yorkshire
DN1 3BU

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