Swindon’s Early Years Oral Health Inequalities project making strides in communities

Tooth extractions for children aged five to nine in Swindon are currently 50 per cent higher than the South West and England average, which is why the Council’s Swindon Plan identified this for urgent action. Doing so is intended to prevent a decline in oral health among long children, tackle local health inequalities and improve overall health outcomes.

The new initiative, Swindon’s Early Years Oral Health Inequalities, aims to address significant disparities in oral health, particularly among children aged one to five from underserved communities. These include families experiencing poverty and homelessness, migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking families, as well as children with special needs and those from South Asian communities.

The project, which is delivered in partnership with community dental nurses from Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (GWH), focuses on providing early intervention through targeted oral health education.

It sees specialists teach local families good oral hygiene habits, distributing toothbrushing packs, and signposting high-risk families to dental access centres for urgent care as well as empowering parents and children to take better care of their teeth.

The initiative has already reached more than 200 local parents and children across various community groups, with plans to expand to more locations in the coming months.

To ensure the project is as inclusive as possible, translators and translated materials in over 15 languages have been provided.

Councillor Paul Dixon, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, said: "Good oral health is fundamental to a child's overall wellbeing, and yet too many children in Swindon are facing preventable dental issues.

"The Council is committed to tackling these inequalities by ensuring all children have access to the tools, education, and the support they need to maintain healthy teeth, regardless of their background or circumstances. By working closely with community partners, we are making a real difference in improving oral health outcomes for Swindon’s most vulnerable children."

Mia O’Sullivan, Women’s Engagement Lead at the Harbour Project, shared feedback from a recent session: "The team provided a really insightful session for families at The Harbour Project with tips around teeth brushing, what to expect at the dentist and healthy eating. Some of the women commented how they had learnt information about brushing their children's teeth that they did not know before.

“We hope to continue working with the oral health team to help address health inequalities within the Harbour Project community."

Meanwhile, a local parent supported by the City of Sanctuary project who took part in the programme said: “It was an amazing session. There’s so much they do not tell you when you go to hospitals or how to get more information on dental care. This session covered that and has made a good impact, now I can find myself and family a dental practice with ease”.

Lucy McArthur, Community Dental Services Clinical Director at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Maintaining good oral health is very important, as it not only prevents tooth decay and gum disease, but also contributes to overall health and wellbeing.

“We are really pleased to be supporting such an important campaign, which has involved working collaboratively with Swindon Borough Council. By targeting specific communities in the local area, we can offer support and guidance to those who might not be registered with a dentist.

“We would like to remind local people of the importance of brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, avoiding frequent sugary drinks and foods, and maintaining regular check-ups to keep your teeth and mouth healthy.”

Following feedback from local residents, the project will continue to visit other community settings in the coming weeks, including the Little Troopers group for young and teenage parents at The Meadow in Penhill.