More than one in four five-year-olds in Bristol have tooth decay despite it being largely preventable, NHS figures show. It comes as the biggest supervised toothbrushing scheme in England was launched in the South West.
Across the region as a whole, almost a fifth of five-year-olds in the South West have tooth decay. Tooth extraction is also the most common reason for six-to ten-year-olds being admitted to hospital.
The Big Brush Club is now being offered in schools in the areas of greatest tooth decay, including in Bristol and North Somerset, after a successful pilot in Devon. It sees teachers holding short, daily toothbrushing sessions for three-to-five-year-olds alongside lessons about self-care, healthy eating and reduction of sugar.
Each child is provided with a toothbrush and toothpaste pack to take home, with the aim of encouraging toothbrushing to be a part of their daily routine. This goes hand in hand with all schools being required to promote healthy eating, including sugar reduction and drinking water.
Supervised toothbrushing is recommended by the National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) as an intervention to reduce dental decay in children.
Reena Patel, South West Consultant in Dental Public Health at NHS England, said: “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.”
Oral health survey of five-year-olds, 2022
|
Local authority |
2022 % 5 year olds examined with experience of dental decay |
|
Bath and North East Somerset |
10.3 |
|
Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole |
(Did not participate) |
|
Bristol, City of |
27.2 |
|
Cornwall |
19.4 |
|
Devon |
18.1 |
|
Dorset |
(Did not participate) |
|
Gloucestershire |
16.8 |
|
North Somerset |
22.1 |
|
Plymouth |
24.6 |
|
Somerset |
20.9 |
|
South Gloucestershire |
17.4 |
|
Swindon |
17.8 |
|
Torbay |
21.3 |
|
Wiltshire |
15.5 |
|
South West Region |
19.1 |
|
England |
23.7 |
Source: Gov.uk official statistics
Schools taking part in the Big Brush Club are being invited to enter a competition to sing their own version of its toothbrushing theme tune. It has been officially launched by rapper and health activist Professor Green.
The star says he only realised later in life how not brushing properly twice a day affected his own physical and mental health – so now takes this seriously with his own son alongside a healthy diet.
“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.
“I cannot wait to review and judge the competition entries.”