Supervised toothbrushing for all primary schools in Cornwall

Thousands more children across Cornwall are now benefiting from supervised toothbrushing sessions, thanks to the expansion of the Big Brush Club to all primary schools in the county.

Delivered by At Home Dental and commissioned by the NHS in partnership with local authorities, the programme encourages daily brushing routines for children aged 3 to 5, aiming to tackle tooth decay and promote lifelong oral health. It was previously available in 180 schools, but now over 10,000 children are taking part.

Chief Medical Officer for NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Dr Chris Reid, recently visited Bugle School to see the impact of the programme first-hand. 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.”

Teachers lead short daily brushing sessions alongside lessons on healthy eating, sugar reduction and self-care, with children given their own toothbrush and toothpaste to take home. The scheme also helps to improve awareness among parents and carers about good dental habits.

Deputy Head of Bugle School, Chantelle McKernan, said the school had seen “a noticeable improvement in pupils’ understanding of good dental habits” and praised the programme for building “a more consistent and supportive environment for healthy habits to thrive”.

The initiative is based on guidance from the National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) and has been shown to significantly reduce decay and improve school attendance. A study found that every £1 spent on targeted supervised brushing can save over 2,600 days of school absence per 5,000 children.

Rapper and health activist Professor Green is backing the initiative and is currently judging a competition to raise awareness of oral hygiene in schools across the South West. The competition closes at the end of the month.

Reena Patel, Consultant in Dental Public Health at NHS England, said:

“Oral health is an integral part of children’s overall health and wellbeing. The Big Brush Club supports children and parents at an early stage to reduce sugar intake and build habits that can last a lifetime.”

Hayley Beaumont, Chief Operations Officer from At Home Dental, added:

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

For more information and to watch a short video about the programme and competition, visit the NHS South West website.