1. There is an inter-relationship between oral health and general health. Oral health affects general health and vice-versa. A person’s ability to follow a healthy diet may be affected by their oral health.
2. Poor oral health can affect someone’s ability to communicate, work, socialise and their self-esteem or confidence by either experiencing pain and/or changes to their appearance. Poor oral health can particularly affect children and young adults who are learning and developing, staring to speak or starting school/college.
3. Poor oral health has a cost both a financial and a social cost: the average cost to take a tooth out in hospital for a child under 5yrs is £836, the NHS spent £50.5m on tooth extractions for those under 19yrs in 2015-2016, 23% of 5yr olds in England had experienced tooth decay,  school days were lost due to dental pain and 38% of children had sleepless nights due to dental pain (Public Health England 2018).
4. Good oral health can help prevent unnecessary pain and suffering which can impact on lost school or work hours.
5. Good oral health helps us take adequate and balanced nutrition.
6. Good oral health helps us to have a good quality of life and comfort.

We exist to promote positive messages in how to achieve improved and good oral and dental health in various ways:

• Producing and supplying resources to the community dental clinics so these may be shared with patients.
• We can assist health and non-health professionals with oral health promotion training and resources, as well as providing information and education sessions to the public.
• We can provide training to health and non-health practitioners caring for those individuals requiring enhanced or specialised care such as individuals with a physical disability or a learning disability, or who are suffering from a mental health illness, a phobia or dementia or who have extensive untreated tooth decay.
• We have a project working with Slough Borough Council ‘Slough Healthy Smiles’ to provide training to health, educational and social care professionals in Slough who deliver care to children or care to adults who have vulnerabilities.

Our three key messages  we’d like you to take away are:

1. Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste for 2 minutes twice a day; before bed and one other time during the day.

• For children 0-3yrs use a smear of toothpaste containing no less than 1000ppm of fluoride.

• For children 3-6yrs use a pea sized amount of a toothpaste containing at least 1000ppm of fluoride.

• For children over 6yrs and adults use a toothpaste containing at least 1350ppm of fluoride.

When brushing:

• Place brush where teeth and gums meet. Angle towards gums
• Use short, circular movements
• Brush the front and inside surfaces, and the flat surfaces of your teeth
• Give teeth and gums a gentle scrub – not too much force
• Brush your tongue, from back to front
• Spit out excess toothpaste – don’t rinse!
• Supervise children until at least age 8

Remember, spit don’t rinse any excess toothpaste from the mouth after brushing.

2 Healthy food choices:

Be sugar smart: reduce your consumption of foods/drinks high in sugar, swap for a lower sugar alternative.

Follow this link for some Healthy snacks for kids

For healthier lunchboxes, get some great ideas here

3 Visit your dentist:

Dental Check by 1 is a campaign launched by the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry to improve access to dental care for children aged 0 – 2.

The Oxfordshire Community Dental Service supports this campaign and we are encouraging parents and carers to take children in their care to the dentist before a child’s first birthday.

 “It helps to know more about oral hygiene.“

“I think there should be more training sessions. I will make sure my clients brush their teeth twice a day.“

“It was interesting, informative and very well explained.“

“Very interesting and informative, useful information regarding amount of sugar in certain drinks.“

“Training was interactive with lots of discussion.“

“It was good to share ideas…“

“Very interesting and informative, useful information regarding amount of sugar in certain drinks.“

“Training was interactive with lots of discussion.“

“I will be sharing all this knowledge with colleagues and parents.“

For more information, help or advice on our health promotions please email Oral.Health@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk