Why Are Thousands of Cornwall Kids Brushing Their Teeth at School Every Day?

Toothbrushing scheme now offered to every primary school across the county

Thousands more children in Cornwall are now taking part in supervised toothbrushing at school, thanks to the expansion of a county-wide programme aimed at tackling tooth decay from an early age.

Previously running in 84% of primary schools, the Big Brush Club is now being offered to all primary schools across Cornwall, as well as selected nurseries. The programme, commissioned by the NHS in partnership with local authorities, is delivered by provider At Home Dental and supports children aged 3 to 5 in building good brushing habits.

Teaching habits that last a lifetime

The aim is simple: get young children brushing their teeth with fluoride toothpaste once a day, ideally twice, while they’re still at school. Teachers lead short daily sessions and use the time to also promote healthy eating, drinking water, and cutting down on sugar.

The Big Brush Club is supported by the National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE), which backs supervised brushing as a proven method of reducing dental decay in young children.

Chief medical officer for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Dr Chris Reid, visited Bugle School this week to meet some of the children taking part. Chris 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.”

More children, fewer problems

The number of children involved in the Big Brush Club has now grown from around 7,919 to over 10,000. Each child receives a toothbrush and toothpaste pack to take home, helping create a consistent routine between school and home life.

Hayley Beaumont, chief operations officer at At Home Dental, said:

“Our team of dental nurses work closely with teachers, pupils and parents to provide advice, support and training on promoting oral health.
The children love doing it with their friends and the teachers report that it not only reduces problems with teeth but also school absence.”

Deputy head of Bugle School, Chantelle McKernan, also shared her support:

“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.”

A problem that shouldn’t exist

Tooth decay is largely preventable, yet it remains the most common reason children aged 6 to 10 are admitted to hospital. According to Reena Patel, South West Consultant in Dental Public Health at NHS England, poor oral health still has a big impact on children’s lives:

“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.”

An expert study found that for every £1 spent on targeted supervised toothbrushing, there’s a £3 return on investment after five years, along with a saving of 2,666 days of school absence for every 5,000 children involved.

Even Professor Green is getting involved

Rapper and health campaigner Professor Green is supporting the programme and helping raise awareness among families. In February he launched a competition open to all primary schools in the South West, with entries closing at the end of this month.

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.”

📷Bob the badger meeting children at Bugle school

📷Dr Chris Reid, Chief Medical Officer, NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB, meeting staff at Bugle school