South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and North Somerset are conducting a joint consultation on their draft, Oral Health Promotion Strategy
The draft strategy is a new plan to improve the region’s oral health to tackle the problem of tooth decay and diseases of the mouth. One in four children and one in three adults in the city are affected by oral diseases including tooth decay.
Launched this week during National Smile Month, four local authorities – Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North Somerset – have worked together on the plan and are asking for the public’s views on how to keep residents smiling. Designed to improve the oral health of people living in the region, the plan looks at how this can be achieved from childhood through to old age.
The current plan outlines five key ways to improve oral health by promoting healthier food and drink choices to reduce sugar intake; training frontline staff in schools, care homes and carers in helping people to improve oral hygiene; increasing fluoride exposure through toothpastes and teeth varnishing for young children; improving early detection and treatment by encouraging visits to the dentist and free check-ups. To reduce inequalities, targeted work will be taking place and oral health messages will be included across many different health and wellbeing policies, strategies and commissioning.
Following consultation, each council will develop local action plans tailored to their local populations.
Find out more and have your say
We welcome comments on the draft Oral Health Promotion Strategy 2016-2021 between 8th June 2016 and the 20th July 2016.
We are particularly keen to find out if you feel that all relevant areas are being considered and whether you think there are any specific impacts or alternatives that the council and its partners should consider.
Information is also available from your local South Gloucestershire library and One Stop Shop.
You can find out more or tell us your views by: