Personal Injury Solicitors

Tower Hamlets Council in east London is running a campaign to raise awareness of the detrimental effects of an unhealthy diet and too much sugar.

The Happy Smiles Healthy Weight campaign coincides with national Smile Month and will host sessions across the borough on how to keep children’s teeth clean and maintain a healthy weight.

Tower Hamlets has some of the highest rates of tooth decay and obesity in children – and tooth decay is the most common reason for hospital admission for children aged 5-9 in the borough.

Around 27% of 10-11-year-olds in the borough are also obese, compared with 23% in London generally and 19% in England.

Director of Public Health at Tower Hamlets, Dr Somen Banerjee, said:

“There is much more we can be doing to give children the healthiest start possible.

“We have an obligation not only to increase access to healthier options – but to proactively increase awareness of the serious health implications of consuming too much sugar.”

Tower Hamlets is one of the first local authorities in London to sign the Local Government Declaration on Sugar Reduction and Healthier Food charter, in a bid to improve the availability of healthier food and drinks – as well as reduce the promotion of unhealthy options across the borough.

The pledge is in line with priorities from the recently approved Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2017-2020) that has a main focus on reducing obesity and other diet-related diseases such as dental decay, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers – one of six key areas of the pledge includes raising public awareness, advocating healthier food and working to reduce the prevalence of sugar.

Local mother Shabana Begum, who has a young daughter Maidah, said:

“I never really thought about brushing my daughter’s teeth as a daily routine, as she’s so young and she only has her baby teeth.

“It's only when I took her to Surestart children’s centre for her stay and play session, that Joanna – a health advisor – told me of the importance of brushing from a young age.

“I realised that I wasn't taking good care of her teeth just because she's young and thinking it won't matter much.

“I keep spare tooth brushes for her in my house – one upstairs, downstairs and in my bag if I'm out late. Then I have no excuse to brush before she falls asleep or to go up and get her brush.

“Take your child to the dentist, so they can show you how to brush their teeth – not just brushing in the middle, but at the top of the teeth where decay starts to show.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors can advise those who suffer injury as a result of dental negligence on how to make a no win no fee compensation claim – including claims relating to: