Age-profiling asylum seekers
The president of the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD), Paula Waterhouse is calling for an end to the unethical practice of taking dental X-rays for asylum seekers in an attempt to verify age.
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Petition to parliment
On January 9, 2024, Tim Farron, MP for Westmoreland, Furness and Eden, presented a petition to the House of Commons urging action on the lack of available NHS dental places in Cumbria and other rural areas.
MP's mother resorts to DIY
Minister says his elderly “frail” mother has pulled her teeth out due to “desperation” and being unable to access NHS services.
Reducing the amount you drink
New research from Alcohol Change UK, the charity behind Dry January, has revealed that amongst UK adults (excluding non-drinkers), 30 per cent of men and 26 per cent of women would like to reduce the amount of alcohol they drink in 2024. The new figures come as one in six UK adults (16 per cent) plan to take a break from alcohol this January.
NHS contract concerns
Sami Butt, a dentist based in Sussex, has made the “tough decision” to hand back his NHS contract. He said government funding measures mean it is “no longer feasible” to conduct business on the NHS.
Excellence in paediatrics
Dental practices are reminded that there is only a month to get their entries in for the 2024 NASDAL Dental Check by One Practice of the Year award. The closing date for entries is February 9.
Swindon access crisis
Politician says it is “borderline impossible” to get an NHS dentist in Swindon. The comments follow the release of updated information concerning available services.
Nicotine replacement
Nicotine e-cigarettes are more effective in helping people quit smoking than conventional nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT), according to the latest Cochrane review co-led by a University of Massachusetts Amherst public health and health policy researcher.
WHO on e-cigarettes
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a statement calling for urgent action to control e-cigarettes to protect children, as well as non-smokers, and minimise health harms to the population. E-cigarettes as consumer products are not shown to be effective for quitting tobacco use at the population level. Instead, alarming evidence has emerged on adverse population health effects.
Low-alcohol consumption grows
The Portman Group’s sixth annual survey in partnership with YouGov shows that young people are the biggest consumers of low and no-alcohol alternatives, with nearly half (44 per cent) of 18-24-year-olds surveyed considering themselves either occasional or regular drinkers of alcohol alternatives, compared to 31 per cent in 2022.
Improve children's dentistry!
Margaret Greenwood MP is calling on the government to develop a comprehensive national children’s oral health strategy to reduce waiting times and focus on targeted preventive measures, early intervention and improved access to high-quality dental care for all children, regardless of socioeconomic status or location.
Bruxism smart headband
A smart textile headband is being developed to stop teeth grinding and jaw clenching – a common and painful condition which affects about a third of adults.
Teaching Gen-Z about vaping
Young adults who are more familiar with e-cigarette marketing practices are more likely to have attitudes against vaping than those unaware of the industry’s marketing, according to a study led by Drexel University public health researchers published in the BMJ journal Tobacco Control.
Pneumonia and toothbrushing
Researchers say toothbrushing is associated with lower rates of hospital-acquired pneumonia, lower rates of ICU mortality, shorter duration of mechanical ventilation, and shorter ICU length of stay.
Smoking hospital admissions
Smoking-related hospital admissions in England increased by nearly five per cent in 2022-23, compared to the previous year, but remain lower than before the covid pandemic.
