The delivery is part of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s ‘All Together Smiling Supervised Toothbrushing Programme’, aiming to reduce the need for dental treatment for children under 10 in the region’s most deprived areas.
The All Together Smiling programme is being delivered through Beyond, the Cheshire and Merseyside children and young people’s transformation programme.
Over 210,000 toothbrushes, pastes and how-to guides have been distributed across Cheshire and Merseyside. Working with local partners, packs are delivered to educational and non-educational organisations in the community where the risk of poor dental health is highest.
The programme delivers age-appropriate support in early years settings, with trained staff using songs, videos and stickers to encourage children.
Ian Ashworth, director of population health for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s, said, “Tooth decay is three times as common in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived areas and by supporting this simple and effective programme, we really want to make a difference to children’s long term oral health.
“Tooth decay leading to early teeth extraction in children is easily preventable using fluoride toothpaste and regular brushing. Our goal is to equip more families and children with the tools and knowledge to minimise tooth decay and to help reduce the number of children needing teeth extracted no matter where they live.”
According to 2022 data from the National Dental Epidemiology Programme, 30.7 per cent of children aged five across Cheshire and Merseyside had tooth decay compared to 23.7 per cent nationally.
Tooth decay remains the leading cause of hospital admission for children aged five to nine, with those living in the most deprived communities 3.5 times more likely to have a decaying tooth extracted than children in more affluent areas.
All Together Smiling is part of All Together Fairer – Cheshire and Merseyside’s collaborative approach to reducing health inequalities. It brings together public, private and third sector organisations with the shared aim of building a fairer, healthier region.
Elizabeth Crabtree, programme director for Beyond Children and Young People Transformation Programme, said, “Poor oral hygiene can lead to pain, missed school days, and long-term health issues.
“Providing free toothbrushes and paste to our most vulnerable children and families is not just about oral health – it is about giving every child a healthier, brighter future.
“This initiative will help children avoid preventable health problems and set them up for success later in life. Our vision is that all our children can smile with confidence”.