Tooth decay is a significant health challenge for children and young people, being the leading cause of hospital admissions for those aged five to nine. It impacts their health, wellbeing, confidence, sleep, and ability to learn. The 'Mini Mouth Care Matters' programme aims to integrate oral health into routine hospital care, empowering ward teams to identify issues early, incorporate mouth care into daily routines, and provide essential advice and support to children, young people, and their families.
The national 'Mini Mouth Care Matters' programme, adapted and implemented at Alder Hey, has already demonstrated considerable impact. The team is now sharing its expertise with colleagues across the region to benefit thousands more children and young people. Since its inception at Alder Hey, the programme has supported over 4,400 children and young people and trained more than 900 healthcare professionals in oral health.
“"When a child is in hospital, oral health can easily be overlooked, particularly when families have so many other things to think about. Through the programme, we have been working with staff on the hospital wards to make mouth care part of everyday care, helping them identify problems early and giving children, young people and families the advice and support they need. It has been great to see the difference the programme has made at Alder Hey, and we are looking forward to sharing what we have learned with colleagues across the region so that more children and young people can benefit."
Concurrently, 'All Together Smiling' continues to grow. Launched in April 2024, this programme has reached approximately 18,400 children in 359 settings and distributed over 451,000 oral health packs across Cheshire and Merseyside. The initiative is actively addressing oral health inequalities and fostering healthy habits for life. The next phase will extend support to specialist SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) settings, ensuring broader access to inclusive oral health support.
