Oral health in children is a top priority of Harrow Council’s Health and Wellbeing strategy.
They lead a multi-agency steering group that meets quarterly to oversee activities related to promoting good oral health and dental hygiene in children.
Led by Andrea Lagos, Public Health Strategist, these meetings run quarterly throughout the year. This steering group is made up of multiple different area representatives (including the Local Dental Committee), from Integrated Care Boards, Public Health, Family Hubs, Patient Forum and Make Every Contact Count (MECC) and Supervised Tooth Brushing schemes.
The purpose of these meetings is to discuss the planning and implementation of oral health initiatives and to share information that aims to serve and address the oral health needs of the local people in Harrow.
Key initiatives that were discussed include:
- Supervised toothbrushing schemes operating in schools, nurseries and other educational/childcare centres.
- Promoting access to NHS primary care dental services.
- Supporting healthy foods, snacks and drinks policies in early years educational settings and schools.
- Health education sessions.
- Oral Health Needs Assessment.
- Make Every Contact Count – initiative aimed at encouraging healthcare professionals to use their everyday interactions with patients and the public to promote healthier lifestyles.
Supervised tooth brushing scheme
The supervised tooth brushing scheme in Harrow is part of the national government initiative aimed at tackling poor oral health by ensuring that children get the support they need to learn positive habits and prevent tooth decay.
Delivering toothpastes and toothbrushes to local children as well as educational material and workforce training has now steadily gained momentum and expanded. It currently operates in approximately 25 primary schools, 50 nurseries, 2 special needs centres with 5 additional settings getting ready to operate in Harrow.
To date, it now runs in 80 settings, reaching approximately 3,000 children who are now enrolled in the scheme. The consent rate is good with all educational/childcare settings approached being supportive and readily engaging with the scheme.
Promoting access to dental services in the community.
Given the well-known challenges related to the NHS primary care dental contract, it is unsurprising that many patients struggle to find a local dental practice in Harrow.
There have been multiple reports that many families in Harrow are struggling to find an NHS dentist. Consequently, Harrow Public health is currently identifying dental practices in Harrow who are accepting new patients for NHS dental treatment.
Approximately 14 out of 34 dental practices are taking on new patients -adults and children, four of which are contracted only to accept children.
This averages to 38% of dental practices in Harrow accepting new patients.
It should be noted that the current NHS dental contract presents significant challenges for dental practices, limiting their ability to take on new patients. As a result, many practices struggle to provide the care they would like to offer to both adults and children.
The Local Dental Committee has identified the need for greater coordination from multiple stakeholders in ensuring that these patients who are unable to find an NHS dentist can access those dental practices that they vitally need and therefore meetings are currently being set up to discuss such strategies.
Oral Health Needs Assessment update
These assessments help pinpoint groups at high risk of poor oral health and inform strategies to improve oral health outcomes. Such groups include:
- Children and adults with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities).
- Looked after children.
- Rough sleepers.
- Refugee and asylum seekers.
- Adults in care homes.
The Harrow Public Health team is currently running surveys in Harrow: Residents, Carers, Care Professionals and Dentists.
The survey is to understand the challenges people face and dentists experience, including any further insights and how these challenges could be addressed for better oral health outcomes.
Health promotion in Harrow
- Oral health packs are being distributed to families in family hubs/centres.
- Oral health sessions are being delivered with other workshops like healthy eating, weaning parties and toddler stories.
Community Dental Services – Whittington
- Experiencing increased waiting lists.
- Currently looking to get funding to open another site to help treat more patients.
Latest statistics in caries among children in Harrow
Good news: Harrow Council has reported a drop in tooth decay among 5-year-olds, from approximately 42 % in 2019 to 27% in 2024 totalling a 14.8% reduction.
This achievement reflects the dedicated efforts of all stakeholders working together to improve children’s oral health.
Other reports of trends in Harrow
- There has been an increase in mothers breastfeeding but drop in those exclusively breastfeeding.
- Smoking levels have now reached above the national average in Harrow.
The Local Dental Committee will continue to foster this close relationship with Harrow Council, collaborating purposefully, helping to influence and shape local policies that affect the workforce and patients helping to improving outcomes.
