SPHR researchers have developed a new resource to support good oral hygiene in the community. The resource has advice tailored for different communities such as Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
First dental steps is a health visitor led oral health improvement programme for children and their families in South West England. The programme includes training for health visitors and integrates oral health advice and the provision of an oral health pack into the one-year health visitor developmental check. As part of the SPHR Public Health Practice Evaluation Scheme, researchers assessed the feasibility of the scheme.
Tooth decay in children remains a significant, but also largely preventable, public health problem. In England, nearly a quarter (23.4%) of 5-year-old children experience dental decay which varies greatly by area and ethnicity. Dental caries in children are linked to poor dental health in adulthood. Poor oral health is often linked to existing health inequalities.
New resource developed
Researchers have developed a new resource for health visitors and other professionals who work with and deliver oral health advice. The resources include general information applicable to any community and community-specific information for young parents; Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Boaters, and Showmen; and asylum seekers and refugees. The resource details how best the intervention can be delivered to these communities with specific examples and suggestions.
The resources come in a white (print-friendly) and coloured version.
Reena Patel, Consultant in Dental Public Health, NHS England said:
“We welcome this new resource for health visitors working with families from diverse background to deliver oral health advice. Through First Dental Steps, universally provided for all families, Health visitors can play a vital role in delivering the NHS 10-year plan ambition to “improve children’s oral health”.
Please share this resource with your colleague and if you have any specific feedback or comments, let us know by emailing fds-project@bristol.ac.uk
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You can find out more about this work by visiting the webpage: Impact case study – First Dental Steps Intervention
“We welcome this new resource for health visitors working with families from diverse background to deliver oral health advice. Through First Dental Steps, universally provided for all families, Health visitors can play a vital role in delivering the NHS 10-year plan ambition to “improve children’s oral health”.
Reena Patel, Consultant in Dental Public Health, NHS England
