Halton has celebrated a significant milestone, with more than 1,000 children across the borough now taking part in supervised toothbrushing programmes. This is a locally developed universal programme developed with North Cheshire and Mersey Community Dental Service along with Liverpool Dental Hospital and delivered by Halton’s general health improvement team. This approach to embedding oral health into general health improvement was presented at last year’s European Association of Dental Public Health Congress.
This local programme is aligned to and enhanced by All Together Smiling, an NHS Cheshire and Merseyside commissioned programme delivered collaboratively across the subregion and by Beyond, the Children and Young People’s Transformation Programme and all nine local authorities. The aim of All Together Smiling is to take an evidence-based approach to supervised toothbrushing, supporting children aged 2–7 and offered to eligible settings situated within the 20% most deprived communities across Cheshire and Merseyside.
Across the subregion, more than 16,300 children are now participating in supervised toothbrushing programmes, helping to improve oral health and reduce inequalities from an early age.
To mark the achievement, Halton hosted an event bringing together early years settings, childminders and primary schools already delivering supervised toothbrushing, alongside others interested in introducing the programme. Attendees heard from Sophie Talbot, who leads on training, participating settings who shared their experiences of implementation, and Jordan Brown, Programme Manager for All Together Smiling, who highlighted key learning to support successful delivery.
Jane Morris, Lead Clinical Director for Dental Services, and Kate Woolford, Clinical Director for the Cheshire and Merseyside Dental Network at North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust, also spoke about the impact of tooth decay on children and shared practical advice on supporting children with SEND.
The event was chaired by Fiona Watson, a Consultant in Public Health for Halton Borough Council and Specialist in Dental Public Health. Speaking about the event, Fiona said:
“Feedback from attendees highlighted the importance of sharing the unacceptable statistic that tooth decay continues to remain the most common reason for hospital admissions in children aged between five and nine years alongside the opportunity for children’s settings to help improve this.
“Following the event, we have had more settings keen to start a supervised toothbrushing programme. Bringing people working locally together was also valued by attendees and we are looking to use these lessons to encourage further uptake from settings across the borough.”
Supervised toothbrushing programmes play an important role in improving children’s oral health and reducing health inequalities. Evidence shows that regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste can significantly reduce tooth decay, helping children to develop healthy habits that can last a lifetime. With tooth decay continuing to be the leading cause of hospital admissions among children aged five to nine years, these programmes provide an effective opportunity to support prevention and give children the best possible start in life.
Dr Ifeoma Onyia, Director of Public Health for Halton, said:
“Keeping on top of brushing teeth can make a big difference to health, wellbeing and school readiness. By investing in prevention and working collaboratively with our early years’ settings, schools and wider partners, we can help ensure that every child has the opportunity to develop healthy habits that last a lifetime. This milestone is testament to the dedication of everyone involved in delivering the programme locally.”
Following the event, additional settings have expressed an interest in joining the programme, helping to extend the reach and impact of this important prevention initiative across the borough. For more information about the programme in Halton for settings or if you are interested in our approach to embedding oral health in general health improvement then please email public.health@halton.gov.uk.
For more information on the All Together Smiling programme, or to see if your setting is eligible to take part in the rest of Cheshire and Merseyside contact the programme at alltogethersmiling@alderhey.nhs.uk.
