Dental problems are largely preventable through effective oral hygiene habits and healthy diets. In England, standards of oral health vary widely, particularly among younger children. This was highlighted in a recent Public Health England survey which found that in some areas, more than a third of children showed signs of tooth decay, compared with just 2 per cent in other parts of the country. The survey looked at the prevalence and severity of tooth decay in three-year-old children in 2013. This is the first time the dental health of this age group has been surveyed nationally. It found 12% of children surveyed had tooth decay – more than one in eight children.
In the latest public health guidance, NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) calls on local authorities to improve the oral health of their communities through better advice and support in oral hygiene. Vulnerable people – such as the socially isolated, the elderly and the frail, and those from lower socioeconomic groups – are also likely to have poor oral health. This is because it is often difficult for people from these groups to access dental services. Latest guidance on oral health includes a range of recommendations to help standardise and improve levels of care in England and Wales. The NICE guidance is aimed at local authorities, health and wellbeing boards, commissioners, directors of health, and frontline practitioners working generally in health, social care and education.
