Food bank users in Gateshead suffering severe dental pain
Finances, mental health, and other barriers are leaving food bank users in Gateshead with teeth in “agony,” according to research presented to the local council. The study, a collaboration between the Health Determinant Research Collaboration and Gateshead Foodbank, highlights the devastating impact of poverty on oral health.
Dr Kate Haddow, the research lead, told Gateshead Council’s health and well-being committee that out of 11 food bank users she interviewed, not one was registered with a dentist at the time. Financial obstacles, including bus fares, and mental health exhaustion are preventing users from attending dental appointments, compounded by the difficulty of finding a dentist.
Personal stories reveal barriers to dental care
Dr Haddow shared examples from her interviews. One client admitted they did not brush their teeth twice a day, saying they were “so exhausted and didn’t have the mental energy to get up and brush her teeth.” Another interviewee described attending a dental appointment but having his bus card declined for a £2.50 fare. He was so embarrassed he fled the bus and subsequently lost his dentist appointment because he did not show up.
Many interviewees acknowledged their dental problems but said they would wait until they were “in agony” before seeking help at the dental hospital at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI). Several had already done so.
Potential solution: mobile dental bus
As the research continues, Dr Haddow mentioned “early conversations” about using a dental aid bus to assist food bank users. The charity Dentaid operates mobile units offering free oral health care across the country, staffed by volunteer dentists working outside their contracted hours. Dentaid typically serves the most vulnerable, including women fleeing domestic abuse, cancer patients, and impoverished families. The charity recently launched a new hub in County Durham and held its first clinics at the South Tyneside Adult Recovery Service.
