Swindon Borough Council leaders have welcomed a sharp improvement in children’s dental health, following new data that reverses earlier concerns about high levels of tooth decay among young pupils.
Council Leader Jim Robbins highlighted the progress while presenting his annual report to the Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee. He said the findings are especially important because children’s oral health is a strong indicator of their access to wider healthcare.
A 2021 survey of five-year-olds showed that 28.9% had tooth decay—well above both the South West and England averages. Robbins said this figure signaled a clear need for action and became a key measure in the council’s plan to “build a fairer Swindon.”
The latest national epidemiological survey shows a substantial turnaround.
- The England average fell from 23.4% to 22.4%.
- The South West average fell from 20.4% to 19.7%.
- Swindon, however, dropped dramatically from 28.9% to 16.5%.
Robbins called it “a massive drop,” stressing that healthier teeth in early childhood can reduce health problems and inequalities later in life.
He praised the council’s public health team for working closely with schools, including running daily tooth-brushing sessions and promoting better oral-care habits.
Robbins noted the progress is even more significant because many families still struggle to access NHS dental appointments. Although dentist availability is improving slowly, he said the data shows how effective targeted local action can be.
The stronger focus on children’s dental health began after 2024 reports revealed that primary school pupils in Swindon had higher levels of decay than regional and national averages, and were more likely to require hospital-based tooth extractions.
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