Running for six weeks throughout the summer school holidays (from July 20 until August 31), this national facing PR campaign will help to raise awareness of the importance of proper brushing and will provide practical tips on how best to do this. Denplan is encouraging parents across the UK to take part and visit their dentist in the school holidays.
Following a recent Denplan focus group study and a survey of over 2000 parents of children aged two to 11, Denplan discovered that many families could use a helping hand in understanding how to take care of their children’s teeth. Denplan found that many children aren’t brushing properly, which can be a huge challenge for families to tackle. The survey results showed that over a third (37.35 per cent) of children have gone more than one day without brushing their teeth, with over 14 per cent not brushing for two days. Furthermore, over 80 per cent of children don’t brush for the recommended two minutes.
Henry Clover, Deputy Chief Dental Officer at Denplan comments: “It is clear that while parents have the best of intentions with their children’s dental health, it can be difficult to keep up good habits amongst a backdrop of sugary treats and children’s reluctance to follow a good oral health routine. There are several techniques parents can adopt including brushing alongside their children or brushing to music. The most important step is to keep them interested for long enough to reach the vital two minute brushing time and engage them in the importance of cleaning their teeth as soon as their first milk teeth appear.
"We are encouraging Denplan dental practices to get involved and promote ‘The Big Summer Brush-Up’ as it provides the perfect opportunity to promote the key campaign messages to their patients as well as also potentially increasing footfall into their practice during the school holidays.”
Over the six week period, Denplan will be revealing the results of their in depth family surveys and focus groups through national press articles and social media. Denplan has also designed a handy booklet – ‘Denplan’s Little Book of Healthy Smiles’ - for families to download from www.denplan.co.uk/bigsummerbrushup This provides lots of helpful tips on how to brush effectively, including oral health advice from dentists and insights from real mums to other mums. There is also a downloadable brushing chart.
Earlier this month, on the July 1, Denplan also hosted a Roundtable meeting at The House of Lords emphasising the importance of children’s oral health and the serious consequences of failing to provide enough advice, guidance and access to oral health assessments. Key policymakers from across the health spectrum were motivated to attend, with speakers including Professor Stephen Fayle, Representative of the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry, Eric Rooney, Dental Public Health Consultant from NHS England, Sandra White, Director of Dental Public Health, Public Health England and Roger Matthews, Chief Dental Officer at Denplan. In collaboration with partners, Denplan will continue to make sure dentistry commands attention at the highest level and that key issues such as the state of children’s oral health are highlighted and pushed up the policy agenda.