​Community Dental Services (CDS) CIC Essex, in partnership with Essex County Council, has been funded by Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board to establish a Peer Led Education Programme in primary schools across Colchester and Tendring to tackle tooth decay in children.

Through bespoke training, CDS is delivering the oral health programme directly to primary schools that have been identified by the local Public Health team and the Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service - using data from the National Child Measurement Programme, Oral Health Survey of five-year-olds, and a high proportion of free school meals - as a measure of deprivation.

Overall, 23.4 per cent of five-year-old children in England have experienced obvious dental decay, according to the National Dental Epidemiology Programme Biennial Oral Health survey in 2019. Tooth decay is a serious health issue, with recent figures revealing that 43,000 children and young people had been admitted to hospital to have teeth that are unable to be saved removed under general anaesthetic. It affects children’s oral and general health, impacting their confidence, wellbeing and ability to take part in everyday activities such as attending nurseries and schools, yet it is preventable.

Aiming to encourage schools via a peer-led approach to adopt tooth-friendly practices and reduce tooth decay, the programme encourages body positivity, the use of tooth-friendly foods and drinks between meals and the sharing of information in peer groups.

Helen Paisley, chief executive officer of CDS, is delighted with how well the programme is being received. Helen commented, “Our aim is to work with communities to raise awareness of oral health and its impact on overall health and wellbeing. Establishing good oral health habits from an early age is so important, and a peer-to-peer programme like this could have a positive impact on these children for life.”

Toyah Khan and Sarah Nunn are the oral health improvement practitioners delivering the training in schools. They said, “We mobilised the programme four months ago and work closely with Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System to support settings who have been chosen to participate in the fully funded ‘Peer Led Education’ programme due to their proactive work around prevention. We are visiting schools to discuss good oral health and provide training to small groups of children from Years 3 to 6 who would like to become oral health champions for their peers. We are delighted with the champions so far and it’s encouraging to see them promoting oral health to their class and at school fetes.”

The young oral health champions receive a certificate and pin badge which they wear on their uniforms to identify them as the oral health champions in the school, and share information and oral health education in peer groups using posters, brushing demonstrations or through assembly presentations.

Greg Brown, interim head of dental, NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, said, “Helping children learn how to look after their teeth and gums is key to setting them up for good oral health for life and improving their general wellbeing. As the network of Oral Health Champions in schools grows, we hope to see a reduction in the number of children – and subsequently adults – requiring emergency dental procedures.”

The Essex County Council Public Health team said, “We are pleased that the early stages of this programme of work has been well received by children, young people and schools and look forward to seeing similar system wide approaches to improve oral health outcomes among children in Essex.”

Spring Meadow Primary, Harwich was the first school to sign up and receive the training. Danielle Cooper, a Year 3 teacher, said, “Our Year 3 and 4 children thoroughly enjoyed learning more about oral health and becoming champions for the school. They have since led sessions with their classes about how to look after their teeth and gums, which were a great success with the children.”

The CDS Essex Oral Health team continue to offer ongoing support to schools participating in the programme and offer oral health training to staff to support the Champions.

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