Toothbrushing lessons to be held in more schools

Thousands of children in Cornwall will benefit from expanded supervised toothbrushing sessions, health bosses have said.

The Big Brush Club was initially offered to children living in areas of greatest tooth decay across the South West, but it will now be provided county-wide, said the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board.

The aim of the programme is for every child aged three to five to brush their teeth twice daily.

Dr Chris Reid, chief medical officer at the board, said: "Teaching good brushing routines from an early age helps reduce oral health inequalities among children."

The NHS-commissioned programme encourages better oral health and sees teachers delivering short, daily toothbrushing sessions for pupils, alongside lessons in self-care, healthy eating and sugar reduction.

Chantelle McKernan, deputy headteacher at Bugle School near St Austell, which is participating in the scheme, said it had seen "a noticeable improvement" in pupils' understanding of good dental habits and the importance of daily brushing.

According to a 2022 government study, almost one fifth of five-year-olds in the South West have tooth decay, despite it being largely preventable.

Tooth extraction is also the most common reason for children aged between six and 10 being admitted to hospital, according to the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities.

Reena Patel, a consultant in dental public health at NHS England, said: "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."

Dr Reid said: "It's great to see how supportive schools in Cornwall are of this forward-thinking, early intervention work."

Supervised toothbrushing is recommended by the National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE), as an evidence-based intervention to reduce dental decay in children.