Thousands of children in Cornwall are set to benefit from an expanded dental care programme. Local health chiefs say the scheme, called the Big Brush Club, will be rolled out across the county to improve children’s oral health.
Initially limited to communities in the south west with the worst tooth decay problems, the programme will now be rolled out to all three to five-year-olds in Cornwall, encouraging them to brush their teeth twice a day. The scheme is being led by the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board.
Dr Chris Reid, the board’s chief medical officer, said: “Building good brushing habits from an early age is vital to reducing the disparity in oral health between children.”
The Big Brush Club, funded by the NHS, aims to teach students about self-care, healthy eating and reducing sugar intake through brushing instruction in school classrooms. Teachers will include short brushing lessons during daily teaching to help children build an active lifestyle.
Chantelle McKernan, deputy headteacher at Bugle School near St Austell, said students had “significantly improved their knowledge” of the importance of oral hygiene after participating in the programme.
Data shows that although tooth decay can be effectively prevented, a 2022 government survey showed that nearly one in five five-year-olds in the southwest are still affected by it. In addition, hospitalization for tooth extraction is still common for children aged 6 to 10.
NHS Dental Public Health Consultant Reena Patel emphasized: “The project helps children and their parents control sugar intake at an early age and establish sustainable oral health habits in the family.”
Dr. Reed added: “It is gratifying that schools in Cornwall have given enthusiastic support to this preventive and forward-looking health intervention.”
The National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK also regards “supervised brushing” as an effective strategy to reduce tooth decay in children and recommends it as a core content of public health promotion.