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Published: Tuesday, 24 May 2022 07:43

Written by Peter Ingle

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To gain the ear of government it helps to speak their preferred language. Speaking at the launch of this year’s National Smile Month the Oral Health Foundation’s chief executive, Dr Nigel Carter, has done just that.

Levelling Up is now the phrase that must be fitted into every government announcement, and Dr Carter spelt out the urgent need to do just that and “level up” the UK’s oral health. He said that there are vast inequalities in dental health, and they were leaving thousands of people in pain. The government needed to address critical problems with access to NHS care, and there was a need to train more dentists.

“Oral health varies around the UK – it is a postcode lottery. This isn’t going to go away overnight as the dentists just aren’t there,” said Dr Carter. Tellingly, he went on to say that, “It does seem that there isn’t a wish to address the problem and train more dentists.”

Under the theme of ‘Everyone deserves a healthy smile,’ National Smile Month 2022 is all about tackling inequalities within oral health in the UK.  Dr Carter made clear the link between oral health and general health, referencing the governments chosen language. “You really can’t achieve good health and wellbeing without good oral health.  That’s why during National Smile Month, we are calling for a levelling up agenda so that everybody can achieve the standards of oral health that they really deserve.”

Mhari Coxon, President of the Oral Health Foundation, reminded her audience that the two main dental diseases were completely preventable. She said, “This year is about shining a light on the millions of people that are affected by oral health problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. We want to support those who are vulnerable, elderly, disabled, or those who, for whatever reason, can’t access education, the right dietary advice, and because of social economic reasons don’t have access to oral care.”

Those from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to suffer from tooth decay and be admitted to hospital as a result. 2020-2021 saw over 14,000 children admitted to hospital for extractions, despite the figure being artificially depressed as a result of the pandemic.

In line with its aim to reduce health inequalities, the Oral Health Foundation is campaigning to make healthier food and drink, containing less sugar, more affordable for families on lower incomes.  It described as “tragic” the recent government decision to delay the ban on cheap offers on unhealthy foods. Despite attempts to justify it as a means of offsetting the effects of rising inflation, the move is likely to store up greater problems with both oral and general health, and to cost both individuals and the country more in the future.

The charity also believes a nationwide water fluoridation programme will drastically cut rates of tooth decay, especially in children. Presently, just 11% of the population benefit from fluoride being added to their water supply. This is despite the evidence that fluoridation reduces hospital admissions (for tooth decay) by between 45% and 68%.

Professor Avijit Banerjee from Kings College London, speaking on behalf of the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Programme^(*) said: “The pandemic has highlighted the key issues in both oral and dental health care that we see daily in the news. “We have access issues, social and demographic inequalities and of course, these impact on the quality of dental health which has declined over the past two years. We need to move away from just treating diseases to preventing them.  We need to bring back the National Health Service, as opposed to a national illness service or a national treatment service.”

Professor Iain Chapple from Birmingham University, speaking on behalf of Johnson & Johnson^(*) referred to the studies that  have shown how poor oral health, specifically severe gum disease, can lead to increased risk of heart disease, strokes, diabetes, dementia and poor pregnancy outcomes. “Both tooth decay and periodontitis are the most common human diseases responsible for more years lost to disability than any other human condition, and the links to systemic diseases are well established.”

“Levelling Up,” comes in the long tradition of sometimes memorable attempts to describe a political philosophy in two words. Eventually it will go the way of the “big society” and “cool Britannia,” to become a forgotten footnote in history books. Based on the government’s recent efforts it seems likely that the access crisis and the oral health postcode lottery, will outlast them, and their slogans.

^(*) National Smile Month runs until 16 June 

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