Oral health in Hackney

Keeping children's teeth healthy

The NHS Dental Outreach Team in Hackney is dedicated to prevention and education, with the goal of lowering the borough's tooth decay rate. Currently, the rate of dental decay among 5-year-olds in Hackney is 24%, which is higher than the England average of 22%.

The good news is tooth decay is preventable. 

The team offers the following services across the borough:

  • Delivering oral health champion training so that settings are recognised as promoting oral health and what this means in practice
  • The fluoride varnish programme (school-based)
  • The Supervised Toothbrushing Programme for SEND schools (school-based)
  • Engagement and information sessions are offered to two cohorts: 
    a) professionals working with children and vulnerable and older adults; 
    2) parents, residents and community groups.

The Fluoride Varnish Programme

This treatment reduces tooth decay rates by 37% in baby teeth and 43% in adult teeth and is open to all Primary Schools, including City Schools and Charedi Independent Schools.

Fluoride varnish is applied once a year to all consented children in reception and year 1 by an experienced practitioner. Visits are generally completed in one day. We prepare the consent via Parent Mail or paper forms. Our Parent Mail consent forms can be translated. All children in Pupil Referral Units are eligible regardless of age and may be able to self-consent.

Supervised toothbrushing programme: Supporting early years in high deprivation areas

We provide a fully resourced intervention for early years settings located in the most deprived areas of the borough. This programme is designed to help children build healthy habits from an early age through daily supervised toothbrushing.

The initiative includes:

  • Supply of toothbrushes, toothpaste, and storage racks
  • Ongoing training and support for practitioners and teachers

Targeted at children who are more likely to experience tooth decay due to living in areas of high deprivation, this programme is crucial for maintaining good oral hygiene and preventing future dental issues.

Supervised toothbrushing programme for SEND schools

For SEND schools we offer a fully resourced programme including toothbrushes, toothpaste and storage racks as well as training and support. This involves daily brushing in the school. The programme is simple and is of enormous benefit to children who run a higher risk of tooth decay and can be reluctant to brush.

Oral health champion training

We provide tailored training which covers the fundamentals of evidence-based prevention of oral disease, signposting to dental services and promoting good oral health within the relevant setting. We promote the Hackney Make Every Contact Count initiative. We support our Oral Health Champions and keep them up-to-date with regular and relevant newsletters.

Brushing for life packs

These are no longer available as part of the Oral Health Champion Training. They are only available at Children’s Centres and within the health visiting team. The pack contains toothpaste, a toothbrush and a leaflet relevant to the target group.

Engagement and information sessions

We can be found regularly at the Homerton Hospital promoting National Dental and wider Health Campaigns. In addition, we support groups and professionals with Wellbeing Days and Events.

Contact

For more information contact Kim Chambers, Oral Health Practitioner for Hackney and the City, on kim.chambers1@nhs.net

Useful resources