Nearly three times as many children in Swindon need teeth removing in hospital because of tooth decay compared to the rest of the South West.

The shocking statistic that 1,045 children and young people per 100,000 of the population need extractions in hospital compared to just 367 in the rest of the region was included in a report by Caroline Gaulton, the head of public health, children and young people at Swindon Borough Council to the authority’s health and wellbeing board.

Ms Gaulton said: “The majority of these occur under general anaesthetic, which poses additional health risks.”

She added: “The pain can affect a child’s sleep and their attendance at school and their ability to learn and socialise with other children.”

The problem affects those in the most deprived areas of Swindon most and also, according to Ms Gaulton’s report, families of Asian heritage and she added: “We do have a significant population with Asian heritage in Swindon.”

She added: “This is a particular problem here and the oral health of children and young people has been made a priority for public health and is an important part of the draft Swindon Plan.”

Ms Gaulton detailed actions already taken by the council to improve children’s oral health.

A specialist one-year post in the public health team has been created to lead on oral health interventions.

A programme called First Dental Steps has been set up – health visitors talk to parents at a child’s one-year health check providing oral health promotion advice, encouraging registering with a dentist and giving out oral hygiene packs.

Ms Gaulton said: “The whole of the Public Health Nursing team has received top-up training in oral health promotion.

The council has been going to schools to conduct supervised tooth-brushing, teaching pupils how best to look after their teeth and gums.

Ms Gaulton said: “This is currently a targeted programme for delivery in schools in areas of highest deprivation, where pupils dry-brush their teeth during the school day, enabling an additional application of fluoride. The provider has further agreed to deliver this programme in all Special Schools.”

She added: “We have been experiencing a little bit of pushback. Sixty per cent of schools have signed up, but 40 per cent have not, and I think they feel that this is yet another thing they’re being asked to do, and it’s properly a parent’s job.”

In an attempt to better engage ethnic minority communities, Ms Gaulton said work has just started with five different organisations - the Harbour Project, City of Sanctuary, Bangladesh Centre, Brunel Trust and one nursery school.