Health and wellbeing
National 5-year-old dental survey to take place in Walsall
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A national survey to find out more about the health of children’s teeth is set to place from this month until June 2024 in all Walsall infant and primary schools.
The national 5-year-old dental survey takes place every two years and collects information on the health of children’s teeth. The information collected will help Walsall Council’s Public Health team and the NHS to develop plans to keep children’s teeth healthy.
All children aged 5-years old in reception and year 1 have been chosen to take part in the National Dental Survey.
Parents should have already or will soon receive information about the dental survey. Schools will also send out consent forms. Parents are encouraged to complete the consent form and return it to their school at the earliest opportunity. This will then allow their child to be part of the survey.
On the day, a dentist and dental nurse will visit the school to check the child’s mouth as part of the survey. This does not replace a regular dental check-up, but it is a good way for the child to practice having their teeth looked at.
“ Children’s dental health matters and it is important children are as healthy as possible.
We encourage parents and carers to involve their children aged 5-years old to be part of the survey by completing and returning the consent form to their school.
It is important to take part as it is a good way for children to have their teeth looked at and find out more about dental health.
In addition, tooth decay in children can cause problems with eating, sleeping communication and socialising. Taking simple steps such as brushing twice a day (including once just before bed) using fluoride toothpaste can make a difference in preventing oral disease. It is preferred to spit rather than rinse after brushing as this will avoid washing away the fluoride.
Water and milk are the only safe drinks to give to children to help with their oral health. Sugar intake should be limited during the day. The more often teeth come into contact with sugar, the more likely tooth decay will occur.
Everyone should ensure they get regular check-ups from their dentist to stay as healthy as possible. If you need to find a dentist in Walsall, visit the NHS website to search your nearest one. “
To find your nearest dentist visit the NHS website.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
- Local authorities are responsible for gathering information on the health needs of their local populations.
- The National Dental Epidemiology Programme survey takes place every 2 years to collect oral health information of 5-year-olds who attend mainstream, state-funded schools across England.
- The survey aims to measure the prevalence and severity of dental caries among 5-year-old children within each lower-tier local authority. The resulting reports will give details of dental caries levels and other clinical measures and provide information for local authorities, the NHS and other partners.
- The results are a Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF) indicator, reported as an item on the Single Data List and classified as Official Statistics.
