Oral health (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)

Children's oral health

• It is important to ensure that oral health promotion is targeted at those at greatest risk. The child population in South Tyneside is expected to remain the same but risk factors (Office for National Statistics:  Population projections), which will further increase demand for services, may be increasing.
• Whilst not a health related behaviour, being overweight or obese reflects an unhealthy diet. The trend in South Tyneside suggests that poor oral health will remain a risk.
• Consumption of 5 portions of fruit a day is seen as indication of the quality of a person's diet. 46% of 15 year olds in South Tyneside consume 5-a-day which is below the England average of 52.4%.
• Recent statistics on the level of excess weight in 10 - 11 year-olds can be found on Figure 4 of the Appendices.

Older people

• There are currently 11 million people in the UK over the age of 65, a figure that is set to increase to 14 million by 2032. In South Tyneside that is estimated to rise from 29,522 people in 2016 to 41,795 people in 2035.
• Good oral health is an essential component of active ageing. Social participation, communication and dietary diversity are all impacted when oral health is impaired.
• Household resident older people may not be able to easily access routine dental services due to functional limitations, transport difficulties and multiple long-term conditions. Coupled with this, as more people are keeping their teeth for longer the range of dental treatment required will be more complex than in the past and is more likely to demand the facilities of a dental surgery. This changing demographic picture makes identifying and accessing those who need preventive services and treatment more complex.
• Long-term conditions can limit older people's ability to carry out their usual daily activities, which may impact on their oral hygiene routine and diet. This can leave older people at higher risk of both dental caries and periodontal disease. The majority of adults aged over 75 are limited in their daily activities and the proportion who experience limitations has increased through the 1991, 2001 and 2011 censuses. Manual dexterity and tooth-brushing ability may be compromised by arthritis, Parkinson's disease and dementia, which can exacerbate periodontal disease and lead to tooth loss. Diabetes is also known to increase the risk of periodontal disease and hasten its progression.