Louise Garrahan, 10 November 2021
Health Education England elearning for healthcare (HEE elfh) has worked in partnership with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (formerly Public Health England) to develop an interactive townscape on child oral health within the All Our Health elearning programme.
The townscape provides evidence and guidance to help health and social care professionals to improve child oral health and reduce oral health inequalities in England. Tooth decay is the most common oral disease affecting children and young people in England, yet it is largely preventable. Just under a quarter of all children in England have experience of tooth decay by the age of age of 5 and tooth extraction is the most common reason for 6 to 10 year olds being admitted to hospital. These children are likely to go on to have a lifetime of poor oral health with associated health and financial costs.
Poor oral health impacts on children and families, tooth decay can lead to pain, affect sleep and the ability to eat, affecting school readiness and absence. In addition, parents or carers may need to take time off work to take their child for treatment.
The townscape takes a place-based approach and features an animated town where health and social care professionals can click on various buildings, such as the town hall, dental surgery and school, to access information and evidence-based resources to inform action to address the poor oral health of the children they come into contact with.
The townscape also signposts the learner to other sources of support such as the NHS website, NHS Start for Life, HENRY’s videos and Change 4 Life top tips for teeth.
It complements the 4 existing townscapes on breastfeeding, smoking in pregnancy, childhood obesity and conception and preconception care.
In addition to the townscapes, there are 26 bite sized elearning sessions which cover a range of public health topics including early adolescence, immunisation and physical activity.
For more information and to access the townscape, please visit the All Our Health programme page.
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