The ‘Plymouth Report 2023’ confirmed a trend of poor dental health amongst children. The data showed that in 2022, 350 children were admitted to hospital for tooth extractions under general anaesthetic due to severe decay.
In light of this, the charity has been considering ways to address the hygiene poverty experienced by many Plymouth households.
The Hygiene Hub was launched to prioritise oral health advice and provide essential resources, including toothpaste and brushes.
Transforming Plymouth Together said it is grateful to Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise for its support and partnership in the project.
A spokesperson for Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise commented, “The Dental Outreach Team within Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise (PDSE) have been delighted to support the new Hygiene Hub in Plymouth. The Outreach Team have been the point of contact for the hub, providing a set-up donation of brushes, paste and oral health resources to enable the project to begin."
Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise’s Dental Outreach Team has also provided the hub’s volunteers with Dental Champion Training to give them the skills and knowledge needed to advise all the service users.
Transforming Plymouth Together said that an essential part of the model is to share key information and advice to build resilience, increase skills and raise awareness.
The spokesperson for PDSE added, “It’s really important to start talking about toothbrushing at an early age and introducing toothbrushing into children’s daily routines, but also talk to adults about their brushing.
“The Hygiene Hub is a perfect opportunity for those working there to begin dental conversations with those accessing their service and receiving the dental products, raising the awareness and importance of daily brushing and mouth care for the whole family.”
Transforming Plymouth Together added that it would like to thank the four churches it worked with to deliver the initiative. They are All Nations, St Andrews, St Peter’s and Vineyard.
A spokesperson for Transforming Plymouth Together said, “We would especially like to thank Vineyard Church and their Uniform Store team for making space available for the Hub at their premises in 93 New George Street.”
The charity's eventual vision is to offer a range of hygiene products in return for a small membership contribution.
The Hub opened its doors for the first time on October 18, 2024.