Oral Health Training in Newham for frontline staff and volunteers

This training session explores the importance of oral health for children and families in Newham, its connections to overall health and wellbeing, and how frontline staff and volunteers can support local residents through prevention messages and signposting to services.

Tooth decay remains one of the most common health conditions affecting children and is a leading cause of hospital admissions among young children. Oral health outcomes are strongly influenced by wider factors such as deprivation, access to services, diet, and health literacy. Poor oral health can affect eating, sleeping, speaking, confidence, school attendance, and quality of life.

Improving oral health requires a whole-family approach, with a strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention. Frontline staff, volunteers, and community champions are well placed to support children and families by promoting positive health behaviours and connecting residents to local sources of support.

This interactive session will build your confidence to have supportive conversations about oral health, share evidence-based prevention messages, and incorporate oral health promotion into everyday interactions.

Grounded in local context and practice, the session will provide practical tools, key resources, and information about services and support available across Newham.

The training will also introduce local oral health partners and pathways, helping participants confidently signpost children and families to appropriate support.

Delivered by Newham Public Health and an Early Years Foundation Dentist

The session includes:

• The importance of oral health and its links to overall health and wellbeing
• Common oral health problems affecting children and families
• Key risk and protective factors for good oral health
• Simple, practical approaches to preventing dental disease
• How to support children and families using clear, consistent prevention messages
• How to access NHS dental services and local support
• Information on local partners, services and signposting pathways
• Question and answer session

What You'll Gain

By attending, you will:

• Increase your confidence in discussing oral health with children and families
• Gain practical tools, resources and key messages to use in your role
• Develop a better understanding of local services and support pathways
• Learn how to promote prevention and healthy behaviours in everyday interactions
• Strengthen your ability to support improved health and wellbeing outcomes for Newham residents

Join us in supporting better oral health for children and families across Newham.

Together, we can help reduce inequalities, promote prevention, and improve health and wellbeing outcomes for local communities.