Wiltshire schools and nurseries take part in initiative to brush away tooth decay

Wiltshire Council is supporting an initiative to promote oral health among young children by encouraging regular toothbrushing in primary schools and nurseries.

In recognition of National Children's Dental Health Month this February, Wiltshire schools and nurseries have partnered with the Big Brush Club — a supervised toothbrushing programme commissioned by NHS England and delivered by mobile dental provider At Home Dental.

The initiative supports daily in-class toothbrushing for children aged 3 to 5 as part of a wider two-year campaign spanning the south west . Wiltshire joins more than 50,000 children across the region in helping develop healthy dental habits from an early age.

Wiltshire Council's Public Health team support the scheme as part of its oral health promotion work, collaborating closely with the NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB (Integrated Care Board). The programme, currently implemented in 76 settings across the county, contributes towards a key part of the council's business plan to ensure all residents are empowered to live full, healthy and enriched lives with the guiding theme of prevention and early intervention.

In Wiltshire the number of 5- to 9-year-olds admitted to hospital for tooth extractions due to tooth decay is more than 70% higher than the England and Southwest average.

Tooth decay affects one in four young children but is a preventable disease that can be drastically reduced by regular toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste. Supervised toothbrushing enables young children in primary schools and nurseries to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste each day they attend, under supervision from staff. It takes settings just five minutes a day and is well evidenced to significantly reduce rates of tooth decay in children.

The supervised toothbrushing programme is targeted to reach children in the most deprived areas of Wiltshire, and this forms part of provider At Home Dental's goal of improving dental access for all, regardless of circumstance. Children and young people living in the most deprived communities are nearly three and a half times more likely to have decay-related tooth extractions in hospital, compared to those living in more affluent areas. The impact is significant on children and their families with days off school, anxiety and the risks of going under general anaesthetic. Tooth extractions in children also cost the NHS millions of pounds every year.

Kate Blackburn, Wiltshire Director of Public Health, said: Poor oral health can be painful and impact children's ability to sleep, eat, speak, play and socialise, and their ability to thrive. However, tooth decay is largely preventable, and that's why it's so important to help children develop these skills that can encourage home brushing and help establish lifelong behaviour to promote good oral health.

It has been great to see how well supported the programme has been by schools and nurseries across Wiltshire, with more than 3,500 children taking part. The programme supports all participating children with their oral health and makes sure they are all given the same opportunities to have good oral health.

Schools and nurseries taking part in the programme receive full support, training and supplies including toothbrushes, fluoride toothpaste and toothbrush holders to carry out toothbrushing sessions in the classroom.

For more information about the supervised toothbrushing scheme visit Big Brush Club.