Growing numbers of parents across Lincolnshire and Newark struggling to afford quality dental care products for their children
It comes at a time when parents are expected to fork out on new school uniforms and stationery
While parents across Lincolnshire and Newark scramble to get ready for the new academic year, they're being urged to also consider their child's oral health, with research finding some actually end up missing school because of problems with their teeth.
The Hygiene Bank revealed tooth decay is one of the leading reasons for hospital admissions in children today.
Dean O'Dell is from Healthwatch Lincolnshire and says they want to see long-term solutions:
"Hygiene poverty is an increasing problem and it's deeply concerning for us. At Healthwatch Lincolnshire we have been raising the alarm for sometime now, about the challenges of accessing NHS dental services in our county.
"The lack of affordable dental care, combined with hygiene poverty is creating a perfect storm which could have long-term affects on the health of our community. When children miss out on basic oral healthcare, they're more likely to develop conditions that could lead to tooth decay and even hospital admissions. We're deeply concerned about the long-term impact this will have - not just on individual health - but on the strain in places on our healthcare system.
"Poor oral hygiene in childhood often leads to ongoing dental issues that are much harder and more expensive to treat in later life.
"Healthwatch Lincolnshire is committed to continuing our work in highlighting these issues. We strongly support initiatives like the partnership between Boots and The Hygiene Bank, which provide immediate help to those in need, however we also need to see the long-term solutions that ensure everyone in Lincolnshire has access to both the basic hygiene products, and the dental care that they deserve."
Hygiene poverty means not being able to afford many of the basic hygiene and personal grooming products many take for granted. The reality of having a low income is it restricts many people’s options, leaving them caught between being able to pay their rent, eat or be clean.
According to figures from The Hygiene Bank, over 4.2 million people in the UK are living in hygiene poverty. Since 2022, the cost-of-living crisis and the inflation crisis has pushed over a million more people into hygiene poverty.
The study from The Hygiene Bank has found a direct link between hygiene poverty and children’s oral health with nearly a third (29%) of parents reporting changes or a reduction in the quality of dental care products for their children due to financial constraints in the last year.
One in four (23%) say their children’s oral hygiene has worsened and one in five (19%) say their children have missed school due to oral hygiene issues.
Looking at the issue more broadly, the research found that two in three (65%) parents experiencing hygiene poverty are forced to choose between purchasing hygiene products for themselves or their children and more than two-thirds (68%) of those living without basic toiletries feel ashamed and nearly three in four (73%) feel embarrassed.
In response to this, Boots and The Hygiene Bank have launched an urgent appeal for donations of toothbrushes and toothpaste to support children back to school.
Boots will donate 175,000 toothbrushes and toothpastes to The Hygiene Bank, which will be distributed to schools and projects that support young people in the UK throughout September. Boots has also launched a range of educational resources for oral health on the Boots Health Hub.