The Big Brush Club
A new initiative has recently been put into action, focusing on the oral health of younger children in Exeter and now rolling out across Devon.
This drive is a dedicated program designed to teach children how to brush effectively, rather than skipping many of the most important areas when considering ‘correct’ dental hygiene.
For the first time in Exeter a ‘teacher led’ toothbrushing scheme will follow the lead that began in Plymouth and Torbay in 2023, and comes off the back of recent figures that show a somewhat damning lack of attention to childrens oral health.
The scheme is aimed at the 3 to 5-year-old age group and is known as The Big Brush Club, which will be rolled out across the region to all settings that have an Early Years nursery, Early Years reception class and all pre-schools.
The scheme is funded by NHS Devon, who have partnered with Devon Public Health, Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council.
The newest figures taken from the National Dental Epidemiology Programme survey show that as recently as 2024, as many as 1 in 5 of the region's 5-year-olds already have some form of tooth decay.
A further study focused on dental-related child absences concludes that over 2,500 days of school have been missed for every 5,000 children. This equates to a lot more work for teachers and difficulty for students who need to catch up on lessons.
The format of the scheme is that selected teachers hold daily toothbrushing classes as well as dedicated instruction about healthy eating and sugar intake.
Every child on the scheme is then provided with their own toothbrush and toothpaste as part of an instruction kit to take home.
Many influential government figures have backed the scheme, including Steve Brown, the director of Public Health and Communities, and our local cabinet member for Public Health, Communities and Equality, Councillor Roger Croad.
It is hoped that the scheme will provide a greater wholesale awareness of dental and oral health, starting with the younger children but embedding itself into the mindset of the whole family and then being shared through localised communities and beyond.
The Chief Operations Officer for ‘At Home Dental’, Hayley Beaumont, said of the scheme, “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.”
And it's not just dentists and health officials backing the scheme, other notable advocates include health activist and well known rapper Professor Green.
He and others have teamed up with the NHS to launch a competition in our local schools to come up with and sing their own version of the NHS Big Brush theme tune.
He said that he was, “chuffed to support the scheme,” adding, "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.”
The competition, running until the end of May, also has a colouring category where budding artists can try their hand at their own style of colouring in one of the Big Brush Clubs mascots.
Of course, ‘getting this right’ begins at home and adult guidance on health-conscious diets and sugar control.
Now more than ever, our children's and indeed our own dental health is bombarded by tempting and confusing products and labels. Many of these products are labelled as healthy but contain dangerous chemicals, not only for our teeth and gums but also for our whole body health.
The Big Brush Club is just one cog in our children's health, and we must be ever vigilant of what they are eating and drinking as well as how they are brushing their teeth.
It's a small step but a notable one in the right direction.
