Dental students look at children’s oral health in inner cities

The students worked with children, parents and staff at Nomony Children’s Centre (Barnardos) in Plymouth.

They ran a fun and engaging interactive show for the children with puppets and music to highlight the main aspects of effective tooth brushing. They then worked with the children in groups to talk them through the process of teeth cleaning while they practised on their own teeth. At the end of the session the children were left with a range of resources, including toothbrushes and toothpaste, so that they could carry on with their daily brushing.

Another element of the project was attendance at a Barnardo’s community support event for parents with young children. There, the dental students ran a stall and talked to visitors about oral hygiene and how to care for their children’s teeth. New parents came away with information and resources to help keep their youngsters’ teeth and gums healthy. Some 89 families attended.