Oral health is an area of serious concern within the London Borough of Brent. In 2023/24
Brent had the highest percentage of 5-year-olds with visually obvious dental decay in
England at 43.4% compared to the England average of 22.4%. Brent also has higher rates
of hospital admissions of 0–5-year-olds than the London and England averages. Poor oral
health can have extensive physical, mental and social impacts on children and young people
and disproportionately affects vulnerable and disadvantaged populations, yet dental decay is
largely preventable.
‘A Little Trip to the Dentist’ is a campaign that was developed by NHS teams in the Midlands
and Public Health England in 2019. This campaign encouraged families to take their children
to the dentist as early as possible, even before their first teeth come through. Brent Council’s
Public Health team will be running a version of the Little Trip to the Dentist campaign
between June and September 2026. This campaign will look to promote early engagement
with the dentist to support families to establish good oral health routines and encourage
familiarity with the dental environment, hopefully dissuading child fears.
Each month of the campaign will centre around a specific theme with key messages,
including:
• June: Starting Early
• July: Oral Health in Pregnancy
• August: Taking Care of Little Teeth
• September: Healthy Eating and Teeth
The Brent Public Health team have developed the assets to promote this campaign. You can
find the digital toolkit Here
If you would like to request a pack of physical assets, such as posters, or have any
questions please contact PublicHealthBrent@brent.gov.uk
