To mark World Oral Health Day, Harrow Council has announced a significant drop in tooth decay rates among young children across the borough.
Figures show that the percentage of five-year-olds in Harrow with tooth decay has fallen from 42.4% in 2019 to 27.6% in 2025, according to the latest survey data.
The council says the drop is thanks in part to its supervised toothbrushing programme, which is delivered through Harrow’s Public Health team. More than 2,500 children across 82 schools and early years settings have taken part in the initiative, which also includes free oral health workshops for families.
Councillor Jean Lammiman, Portfolio Holder for Public Health, said: “Tooth decay isn’t just a cosmetic problem, it can cause pain, school absences, speech problems and even land children in hospital. There has been a lot of work that has taken place to put children’s dental health at the top of the agenda.
“We’re putting residents first by addressing tooth decay early. By doing that it means we will see healthier, happier children and take some strain off parents and our healthcare system. That’s really something to smile about.”
The workshops, which are free to attend, offer advice on maintaining dental hygiene and preventing tooth decay. Hundreds of families have already taken part.
World Oral Health Day is held each year to highlight the importance of good oral hygiene and encourage people to take better care of their teeth.
Parents and carers can find free oral health workshops at Harrow’s Family Hubs. For local dental services, they can visit the NHS website or call NHS 111 for urgent care.
Harrow Public Health is also carrying out further research into oral health needs across the borough. Residents can share their views through a short survey on MyHarrow Talk, which is open until 14 April.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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