Taking care of your smile: Children and young people’s oral health

Healthwatch Leeds carried out engagement work in Autumn 2024 to better understand the experiences and challenges families face in supporting children’s oral health. The report explored how parents, carers, children and young people access information, dental care, and support for children's dental hygiene. Feedback was gathered from 599 children, young people, parents and carers across more than 50 schools in Leeds through surveys, workshops and community engagement.

Key findings

 1. Struggling to find a dentist - Many dental practices are not taking new NHS patients. Those that are, have long waiting lists. 

2. Money worries - The cost of dental care impacts how those with financial difficulties look after their teeth. 

3. Anxiety and distress - Some children and young people are experiencing anxiety, distress and poor school outcomes because of poor oral health.

4. Poor communication - Some dentists do not explain things well, increasing young people’s fear of visiting the dentist, and leads them to avoiding visiting the dentist. 

5. Adapting care - Some dentists support people as an individual, for example, using story boards to support autistic children. 

6. Oral health knowledge - 88% of children and young people say their parents or carers taught them how to care for their teeth. They do not all have correct information.

 7. Language barriers - Not all families are given access to translators when visiting the dentist. Written information is also not always available in other languages. 

8. Complicated system - For those newly arrived in the UK, access to dental care is not a clear process. Many struggle to know where they can access support. 

9. Schools stepping in - School staff have supported families to access dental services. 3

 Key recommendations- What needs to change?

•  Simple search - Make it easier to find an NHS dentist. 

• Knowledge - Provide help and education in schools. 

• Access - Improve children and young people access to NHS dentists, targeting families in low-income neighbourhoods. 

• Promote - Increase oral health promotion, particularly for those from low-income neighbourhoods. 

• Adapt - Improve children and young people’s experience of appointments to reduce anxiety and meet specific needs.  

•  Translate - Provide translators and information in other languages. 

•  Act  - Listen to children and young people to make decisions about dental services and future planning.

Healthwatch Leeds will share these findings with local NHS commissioners, public health teams, schools, and early years providers to inform improvements in children’s oral health services. Follow-up work will aim to monitor progress and support further initiatives to improve access and reduce inequalities.