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Nationally, the latest oral health survey of 5 year olds indicates an increase in the proportion of children with no experience of decay from 69.1% in 2008 to 75.1% in 2015.
However, in Warwickshire there has been a decline from 79.4% in 2008 to 73.7% in 2015, with a notable drop in the proportion of 5 year old children with no experience of decay in Rugby Borough from 83% in 2008 to 59.9% in 2015. Similarly, a 2013 survey highlighted emerging poorer oral health amongst 3 year old children in Rugby, compared to the rest of the county.
Ethnicity data from the 2015 survey of 5 year olds suggests that the prevalence of decayed, missing or filled teeth was higher amongst ‘White other’ children, with Rugby Borough housing a larger proportion of ‘White other’ children – predominantly Polish (2011 Census). The data from these surveys suggest the need to strengthen universal oral health promotion in the early years across Warwickshire, with a more targeted focus in Rugby Borough -particularly amongst ‘white other’ communities.
Findings from this paper also highlight skills and training gaps, and the need to equip early years workforces to deliver up-to-date oral health promotion messages. Priority early years cadres include health visiting staff, social care staff, family support workers, children centre staff, nursery, pre-school and day-care personnel, child minders and Integrated Disability Service staff.
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