Four in five teachers have given toothpaste or brushes to children

Four out of five teachers have given toothbrushes and toothpaste to students, as the cost of living crisis affects the oral health of children, according to new research.

Asurvey of secondary teachers by the hygiene poverty charity Beauty Banks and the British Dental Association BDA) has revealed that 81% of teachers say some children in their school have no access to toothpaste, with 41% saying this leads to pupils being socially excluded because of poor oral hygiene.

It comes as household budgets continue to take a battering in the UK, with inflation above 10% and the International Monetary Fund warning that Britain is expected to be the only large industrialised country to face a shrinking economy this year.

Three-quarters of teachers said lack of access to toothpaste and toothbrushes had led to students having discoloured teeth; half said they knew children with noticeable tooth decay; and just under a third had witnessed pupils in dental pain or suffering from halitosis.

One in four teachers surveyed said they were kept awake at night worrying about their pupils’ wellbeing while 38% reported feeling helpless.