A conversation about oral health is now more important than ever following the COVID-19 pandemic, Ben Atkins argues.
Oral health shouldn’t be a postcode lottery. Dental decay is entirely preventable. Yet it remains the most common chronic disease worldwide, with high prevalence across multiple areas of the UK. Regional variation, underpinned by socio-economic factors, has created a stark oral health gap between more affluent and poorer parts of the country. This is at risk of being exasperated by the current pandemic.
COVID-19 has had a wide-ranging impact across our health service. However, one impact that many may not have considered is the effect on oral health. Dental practices are only just beginning to reopen after lockdown. Changes in our routines and eating habits whilst isolating at home could put our oral health at risk.
Having a conversation about oral health is now more important than ever. It keeps our mouths healthy and out of hospitals. Reflecting on this year’s National Smile Month, which has just drawn to a close, we have a timely reminder of the need to level up the country’s oral health, and ensure coronavirus doesn’t widen this gap.
The value of a healthy smile
Despite efforts to improve oral health, dental decay remains a significant challenge in the UK. For the NHS, we know the cost of dental diseases. It places significant pressure on already overstretched resources. In 2017, the cost of tooth extractions for under 19-year olds exceeded £50 million. With the vast majority of these the result of preventable dental caries.
For patients, poor oral health can have a detrimental effect on their overall well-being. Tooth loss can severely impact an individual’s quality of life, causing difficulty eating and drinking, interrupting sleep, toothache and irritability. Dental decay can even cause people to avoid smiling and laughing because of the appearance of their teeth.
This difficult period we face as a nation has emphasised the importance of a smile. A smile shows others – from the postman and our neighbours to friends and family – that we are here for each other. When we cannot hug or shake hands, a smile becomes our main tool to connecting with others.
The postcode lottery of dental decay
While everybody deserves a healthy smile, unfortunately for many this isn’t the case. Recent data from Public Health England highlights significant regional variation in oral health outcomes. Blackburn and Darwen, for example, currently have the largest proportion of children with visually obvious dental decay at 50.9%, compared to the national average of 23.4%. Contrast this to the other end of the scale in East Sussex where this figure drops dramatically to 8.7%.
Alongside this postcode lottery, we also know that socio-economic background plays a key role in determining oral health outcomes. The Health Foundation and the Nuffield Trust found that those from the most deprived backgrounds are twice as likely to be hospitalised for dental work than those that are better off.
Levelling up oral health outcomes
Addressing this gap isn’t going to be simple and there is by no means one quick fix. However, an important first step is levelling up patient education. There are many things we can do to maintain good oral health and one of the most important is of course brushing twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste. On top of this, there are several other quick and easy things we can all do to protect our mouths. Like using interdental brushes, mouthwash and sugarfree gum. However, the use and understanding of such measures also strongly correlates with economic indicators like household income.
We know that people from a lower socio-economic background are less likely to adopt additional oral health measures to prevent dental decay. A recent survey from the Oral Health Foundation found that those from lower-income households were less likely to use dental floss, mouthwash or sugarfree gum.
Potentially driving this is a lack of understanding around what these interventions can do for your oral health. For example, the same Oral Health Foundation survey found that those from higher-income households were more likely to be aware that chewing sugarfree gum can neutralise plaque acid and clear food debris. Chewing sugarfree gum represents a low-cost and accessible way to support regular brushing and protect our teeth. A recent review by King’s College London found that people who regularly chewed sugarfree gum developed 28% less dental caries than those who did not. Despite this evidence, it seems that understanding remains low on the benefits of sugarfree gum.
National Smile Month
Ensuring we all know how to best keep our mouths healthy is a good first step in closing the oral health gap. This year’s National Smile Month made some great progress in reaching out to those groups where oral disease is far too common. Activities like the Great British Brushathon and oral health home schooling helped to improve dental education amongst disadvantaged communities. But there is still much to do!
Maintaining a healthy smile can be really simple, and it plays a key role in supporting an individual’s broader physical and mental wellbeing. But we know that for many this isn’t the case. Where you were born or how much your family earns should not determine your risk of dental disease. It’s essential that we do more to support those from the most vulnerable and deprived communities. Everyone’s lives have changed to some degree due to the current pandemic. But we must ensure that oral health does not take a back seat – we need to level up the country’s oral health.
