Spring Engagement Grants Fund 2025 insight report – Healthy Teeth and Healthy Smiles – Merton and Wandsworth

Executive Summary

The South West London (SWL) 2025 Spring Oral Health Engagement Fund in Merton and Wandsworth focused on understanding people’s day-to-day oral health habits, barriers to maintaining good oral health, and the cultural, emotional and financial factors shaping behaviours. The work prioritised Core20 and underserved communities, where people often face the greatest inequalities and poorest outcomes.

We funded 15 voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations with grants of up to £2,000 to run focus groups and community research across Merton and Wandsworth. Over 970 people took part across 89 activities, including children and young people, older people receiving care at home, disabled and neurodivergent people, refugees, people experiencing homelessness, and those living in temporary accommodation.

Poor oral health remains a significant challenge in South West London. It is closely linked to wider health inequalities, poverty, disability and ethnicity. Oral disease impacts eating, speaking, sleeping and school readiness, and is strongly associated with other health conditions in later life. Locally, organisations have raised growing concerns about rising problems with oral health, particularly for children and people on low incomes.

Key borough-wide findings

• Financial and practical barriers make good oral health difficult to maintain. Costs of dental care and even basic products, combined with confusion and long waits for NHS dental care, leave many unsure of what support they can access.
• Emotional factors stop people from seeking care. Fear, shame, and past negative experiences especially affect older adults, neurodivergent people, and those who have faced stigma.
• Language barriers can limit access for many communities. A lack of translated information prevents non-English speakers from getting the care they need.
• Early intervention opportunities are often missed Many believe school brushing programmes have ended, leaving children without support.
• Hidden sugars and misleading labelling undermine healthy choices. People feel confused or misled about what foods and drinks contain.
• Dental services are not seen as inclusive or accessible enough. People want tailored, culturally appropriate support alongside clearer and more consistent information.
• Awareness of emergency dental options is low. Many don’t realise NHS 111 can be used for toothache and if they do, they worry that it will lead to costly private care.

Merton specific insight:

• There is a shortage of NHS dentists in East Merton which is a problem for the community living in the east of the borough, particularly for those who must travel on public transport as they feel it’s not well connected to the west of the borough.
• Access can be an issue -people with disabilities faced surgeries upstairs with no lifts, while refugees struggled with English materials and entitlement rules.
• Mobile units and outreach sessions in familiar settings would improve access to people who aren’t near a dentist.

Wandsworth specific insight:

• People know the basics, brushing, fluoride toothpaste, flossing but face challenges due to disability, caring responsibilities, or lack of motivation.
• Awareness of what is available for families who didn’t realise children’s NHS dental care is free.
• Older adults reported cost barriers, lack of home visits, and difficulties maintaining routines due to illness or memory loss.

Next steps:

The insight gathered will help us better understand the role of prevention and where support should be targeted. We will share findings with the South West London and South East London Dentistry Leads to inform programme development including awareness of the School Teeth Brushing Programme and listen to partner recommendations. NHS England will also review NHS Choices to improve visibility of practices accepting new patients, and the insight will support the local SWL NHS 111 campaign.