Four in five teachers are now providing pupils with toothpaste and toothbrushes as the cost of living crisis bites.
Research by the British Dental Association and hygiene poverty charity Beauty Banks has outlined the shocking state of their pupil’s oral health, and why government has a responsibility to act.
83% of secondary teachers say they or their school have given students toothbrushes and toothpaste. 81% said there are children in their school who don’t have regular access to supplies while 40% said this leads to students being socially excluded by their peers because of oral hygiene issues. Half report children isolating themselves. One third have witnessed bullying directly
25% say children miss school because of poor oral hygiene. Three quarters (74%) said children who don’t have regular access to oral health products have discoloured teeth. Half said children had noticeable tooth decay. 30% noted children in dental pain or suffering from halitosis
Ongoing access problems and cost of living pressures represent a perfect storm for teachers and their students, with millions unable to access routine preventive care, and many now unable to afford the basics to maintain good oral health.
“This shocking survey underlines that deep health inequalities are set to widen” says BDA Chair Eddie Crouch. “Yet while our children face an epidemic of decay, the government seems asleep at the wheel.”
Jo Jones, co-founder of Beauty Banks said: “We work with charities including food banks, family centres, domestic abuse centres, homeless shelters and universally – across the board – toothpaste is now our most requested item. Before the cost of living crisis, it wasn’t even in the top three.”
In August, BBC research in partnership with the BDA found that 91% of practices in England could not take on new adult NHS patients, with 79% not accepting new child NHS patients.
