Supervised toothbrushing contract extended to all primary schools in Cornwall

Thousands of primary and nursery school children in Cornwall can now access supervised toothbrushing sessions thanks to the extension of a programme to encourage better oral health.

The contract for the Big Brush Club is being rolled out across the county by At Home Dental to allow all primary school children to take part, with some targeted nurseries also joining in.

The aim of the programme is for every child, aged 3-5 years old, to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste once a day, and ideally twice a day. Teaching good brushing routines from an early age helps reduce oral health inequalities among children.

Chief medical officer for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Dr Chris Reid, visited Bugle School this week to meet children taking part in the Big Brush Club. He said: “It’s great to see how supportive schools in Cornwall are of this forward-thinking, early intervention work. In 2022 an oral health survey found almost 20% of 5-year-olds had oral decay. Teaching good brushing routines from an early age helps reduce oral health inequalities among children.”

Previously 180 (84%) schools took part in the scheme, which is approximately 7,919 children participating in the Big Brush Club in Cornwall. There are now more than 10,000 children taking part in this evidenced based programme.

The programme is commissioned by the NHS, in partnership with local authorities, and delivered by provider At Home Dental. Initially it was rolled out to children living in areas of greatest tooth decay across South West England, but thanks its support and success, will now be offered county wide.

Teachers hold short, daily toothbrushing sessions alongside lessons about self-care, healthy eating and reduction of sugar. This goes hand in hand with all schools being required to promote healthy eating, including sugar reduction and drinking water.

Deputy head of Bugle School, Chantelle McKernan, shared how proud they are to be part of the Big Brush Club: “Since joining the programme, we have seen a noticeable improvement in our pupils' understanding of good dental habits and the importance of daily brushing.

“Importantly, it’s also helped to increase parents' knowledge and awareness of effective oral hygiene practices at home, creating a more consistent and supportive environment for healthy habits to thrive.

“We thank the Big Brush Club team for their support and resources, and we encourage other schools to take part in this important effort to promote better oral health in our communities.” Almost a fifth of 5-year-olds in the South West have tooth decay despite it being largely preventable. Tooth extraction is also the most common reason for 6 -to 10-year-olds being admitted to hospital.

Reena Patel, South West Consultant in Dental Public Health at NHS England, said: “Oral health is an integral part of children’s overall health and wellbeing, which affects their ability to learn, thrive and develop.

“Yet in the South West we still have very high rates of tooth decay, causing children pain, infections and difficulties with eating, sleeping, smiling and socialising, which can lead to significant school absence and parents taking time off work.

“The Big Brush Club is about supporting children and parents at an early stage to reduce sugar intake and create good habits at home that can last a lifetime.”

Supervised toothbrushing is recommended by the National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) as an evidence-based intervention to reduce dental decay in children. An expert study concluded that every £1 spent on targeted supervised tooth brushing can after five years give a £3 return on investment and save 2,666 days of school absence for every 5,000 children.

Rapper and health activist Professor Green is helping the NHS raise awareness among families about the importance of children looking after their teeth, and back in February launched an exciting competition to all primary schools across the South West. Competition entries close at the end of this month. Competition entries close at the end of this month, you can find out more in this short video.

He says he only realised later in life how not brushing properly twice a day affected his own physical and mental health – so now takes this seriously with his own son alongside a healthy diet.

Prof Green said “I am chuffed to be able to support the NHS supervised toothbrushing in schools’ scheme, and to be judging a competition which gives young children a creative outlet, while also teaching them the importance of brushing their teeth at least twice a day.

“Getting this right for children will result in fewer kids being admitted to hospital with avoidable tooth decay and better oral health for them in adulthood.”

Chief operations officer from At Home Dental, Hayley Beaumont, said: “Our team of dental nurses work closely with teachers, pupils and parents to provide advice, support and training on promoting oral health.

“Each child is provided with a toothbrush and toothpaste pack to take home, encouraging toothbrushing to be a part of their normal daily routine.

“The children love doing it with their friends and the teachers report that it not only reduces problems with teeth but also school absence.”