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Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Claire Young (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Tuesday, 14 July 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Health of Children and Young People

Question

Fewer than half of the children in my constituency have seen an NHS dentist in the last two years, exacerbating health inequalities. The supervised toothbrushing programme is being evaluated for its effectiveness, but I hear uptake is low. What other measures does the Minister plan to introduce to tackle oral health inequalities for children? Will she commit to reviewing NHS dental provision in my constituency?

Answer

As I am sure the hon. Lady is aware, the most common reason for children aged five to nine to be admitted to hospitals is tooth decay. That is why since 2025-26, £21.5 million has been allocated to support supervised toothbrushing in schools and nurseries in the most deprived areas in England, and that will include her constituency.


Secondary information

Type
Oral question
Reference
789 c744 
Session
2026-27
Oral question type
Supplementary
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Children Health Young people
Link
View this Oral question on hansard.parliament.uk