Tackling kids tooth decay in the North East: A connected approach
Access to NHS dental care is shrinking and, worryingly, the dental health of 5-year-olds in England hasn’t improved since 2017. Despite local efforts and a strong desire for change, children in the North East still face the highest rates of tooth extractions due to decay. So, what can be done to change this?
To explore this pressing issue, we hosted a sandpit-style event: an intensive, collaborative workshop designed to generate ideas and solutions. Our goal was to get together to start conversations about improving both preventative dental care and access to dental services for children in the region.
Poor dental health doesn’t just affect eating and speaking. It can lead to missed school days, social withdrawal, and long-term health issues.
But tooth decay is also entirely preventable. With reduced sugar intake and consistent oral hygiene, children can avoid the pain and disruption that decay brings.
In June 2025, we gathered at One Strawberry Lane in Newcastle, bringing together for the first time 27 passionate stakeholders from Local Authorities, the NHS, universities, and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. These stakeholders have roles dedicated to improving oral health and/or supporting children in the region.
Facilitated by Alison Clarke from Insights North East, the sandpit focused on reviewing barriers to good oral health. We looked at the systems surrounding children: from family, friends and teachers to schools and neighbourhoods, cultural norms and public policy; and we mapped out the multi-level challenges that shape oral health outcomes.
The group discussed key barriers to good oral health in the North East across levels that surround and influence children. Some of these barriers are provided below.
During the sandpit, we didn’t just talk about the challenges: we also explored ideas for practical, creative solutions to improve children’s oral health across the North East.
Some of the ideas included:
What became clear in our discussions was that, while there’s a strong shared commitment to improving children’s oral health, many system partners felt disconnected. There was a lack of awareness about existing resources, and uncertainty around how to communicate or collaborate effectively across roles and organisations.
The group recognised that many initiatives are already underway but without a joined-up approach, we risk:
This sandpit was a starting point: a chance to connect, share, and begin mapping what’s happening across the region. This is just the beginning. To make real progress, we need to:
There’s a real appetite to continue this work and a strong sense that, together, we can make a difference.
Our children in the North East face inequity across many aspects of their lives, with high levels of deprivation and poor health outcomes. Dental decay is preventable, but it has a huge impact on our children.
By working together across sectors, sharing resources and amplifying efforts, we can build a more connected system to support children to grow up in the North East with a healthy mouth.
If you feel you should be part of this conversation, please contact Chris Vernazza.