Dental nurse volunteers are needed in the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde area to help out at the 'All I Want for Christmas' day organised by Horizon (Delphi Medical/Blackpool Council) for people in recovery.

Blackpool has some of the worst dental health statistics in the country, due to high levels of poverty, low levels of employment, poor diet, and high levels of people misusing drugs and alcohol in the town.

There is also a large transient population, and a high level of homelessness in Blackpool, which worsens the problem.

The statistics relating to drug and alcohol misuse in Blackpool are staggeringly high, and this has a major detrimental effect on teeth.

Many of the clients in recovery from drug and alcohol also have families, so the lack of understanding on how to care for teeth results in higher than average levels of childhood tooth decay.

The general state of Blackpool children’s teeth is shocking with the average number of missing teeth in five year olds almost four times the national average.

The Day will take place on 25 November at the Freedom Building on Church Street – dental charity, Dentaid, will be there with their mobile surgery, the Oral Health Foundation is providing leaflets and information and the Day will be opened by DCDO Eric Rooney. OHF President and long-standing BADN member Janet Goodwin will also be there, heading up the dental nurse/OHE contingent – and I’ll be there, making the tea and performing other non-clinical/advisory tasks!

We’re looking for dental nurses (and other members of the dental team, particularly those with OHE qualifications) to help out at the day, talking to visitors and elaborating on the OHE leaflets. If you are from the Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde area and can spare a few hours on Saturday 25 November, please contact me at pam@badn.org.uk or on 01253 338365.

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