Pupils from Durham Gilesgate Primary school were all smiles on Tuesday 21st June as mydentist’s mobile dental classroom arrived in the city to teach children how they can maintain a happy, healthy mouth.
The launch of the mobile classroom in Durham by the team at mydentist’s practice located at Framwellgate Bridge follows research which reveals that 28 per cent of five-year-olds in the North East have experience dental decay, having one or more teeth that are decayed to extracted or filled because of cavities. (i)
Last year almost 500 children aged five to nine were admitted to hospital for multiple tooth extractions every week (ii) making tooth decay one of the nation’s most common diseases amongst children.
mydentist’s mobile dental classroom is travelling the length and the breadth of the country visiting schools with dentists and dental nurses on board to educate more children on the benefits of looking after their teeth and also what food and drink is good for their teeth and what they should avoid.
mydentist practice manager, Melissa Nicholson said: “Statistics show that 30 per cent of children didn’t see an NHS dentist between 2012 and 2014 and dental issues continue to be the main reason for children being admitted into hospital. (iii) In fact £30m was spent by the NHS on tooth extractions for under 18s during 2012 and 2013. (iiii)
“Our aim is to change this trend by raising awareness of the free dental care which is available to children on the NHS, including fluoride varnish which should be applied to children’s teeth twice a year from the age of three, and also by showing children that looking after your teeth is not only really important, but it can also be fun.
“And it really works. On average after we visit a school with our mobile dental classroom, appointments with children increase by 18 per cent.”
During the visit pupils got the opportunity to identify which food and drinks were good for their oral health and which were not. Research by mydentist recently revealed that 20 per cent of parents believe fruit smoothies are good for their children’s teeth, despite most containing high levels of sugar as well as acid. (v)
Nicholson added: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response our mobile dental classroom has received from schools, especially here in Durham.
“Today our lessons were attended by children from across the city and each were given a special goody bag containing a two-minute tooth brush timer and The Little Book of Big Smiles so they can carry on maintaining their dental health outside the classroom.
“Our mobile classroom is touring the country and we couldn’t have received a more positive response to our journey to improve the UK’s dental health.”
For more information on the free dental care available to children in Durham or to arrange a school visit contact the mydentist practice located on 1st Floor Bridge House, Framwellgate Bridge, Durham DH1 4SJ or 0191 3847605