Hot off the press! BASCD welcomes the national supervised toothbrushing programme for England announced today.
An additional £11 million in government funding has been committed to local authorities that provide supervised toothbrushing in nurseries and schools. This campaign has been supported by an innovative partnership with Colgate-Palmolive who have pledged to donate 23 million free toothbrushes and toothpaste over five years, in addition to a tailored public health campaign.
This programme aims to address childhood tooth decay, prioritizing early years settings and primary schools in England’s most deprived areas. The programme is a manifesto commitment from the Labour Government and, as well as being part of the government’s Plan for Change, supervised toothbrushing also supports their Child Health Action Plan to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.
Why this initiative is crucial:
🔹 1 in 5 children aged 5 in England experiences tooth decay, with rates rising to 1 in 3 in deprived communities.
🔹 Tooth decay remains the leading cause of hospital admissions for young children.
🔹 Early intervention promotes better health outcomes, and reduces related illness and poorer health later in life.
Dr Charlotte Jeavons, President of BASCD, stated:
“Tooth decay is almost entirely preventable, yet it remains a significant public health challenge. This initiative will help embed essential oral health habits early in life, reducing inequalities and improving long-term well-being.”
As the leading authority on population oral health, BASCD supports this vital initiative, which will benefit up to 600,000 children annually and empower families to establish lifelong oral hygiene practices.
This initiative highlights the importance of prevention-led public health policies. Join the conversation—how will this programme impact your community? Share your thoughts below. 👇
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