NHS Expands Oral Health Program to Primary Schools in Devon

Children in primary schools across Devon will now have access to funded oral health lessons, thanks to a new investment from NHS Devon. The initiative expands the existing programme, which was previously limited to Plymouth and Torbay, to include a wider range of schools in the region. With funding committed for the next three years, the programme aims to deliver supervised toothbrushing sessions to Year 2 pupils aged six and seven. Schools interested in participating can now sign up.

Open Wide and Step Inside, the name of the programme, is delivered by the Dental Outreach Team at Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise. Its main objective is to improve children’s oral health and reduce incidences of tooth decay. Ian Roome, the Member of Parliament for North Devon, expressed strong support for the initiative, highlighting that dental decay continues to be a significant challenge for families in the area. He stated, “This is really positive news for North Devon’s children and exactly the kind of thing we’ve been pushing for. It’ll help build good habits early, support parents, and hopefully ease pressure on stretched dental services over time.”

Official statistics reveal that tooth decay remains a pressing public health concern throughout England. Data from the Royal College of Surgeons indicates that in the period of 2024/25, 21,162 children aged 5 to 9 were admitted to hospitals due to tooth decay. This condition is now recognized as the leading cause of hospital admissions in this age group, surpassing cases of acute illnesses such as tonsillitis.

National survey results from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities show that during 2023-24, 22.4 percent of five-year-old children in England experienced dental decay. This figure reflects a slight decrease from previous years, but the data also reveals that children from the most deprived areas are more than twice as likely to suffer from tooth decay compared to those from less disadvantaged backgrounds.

Local dentist and clinical dental adviser for NHS Devon, Jonathan Bouwer-Davies, emphasized the importance of teaching children proper brushing techniques as a vital life skill. He remarked, “Supervised toothbrushing is an evidence-based and cost-effective intervention proven to improve children’s oral health. This investment will help address health inequalities, particularly in more deprived areas, by preventing tooth decay and reducing the need for hospital treatment.”

The educational sessions will include a 15-minute animated film, a two-minute brushing song, and an interactive quiz designed to engage the children. Additionally, each participant will receive a take-home pack containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, a two-minute timer, and oral health information.

Robert Witton, a professor of community dentistry at the University of Plymouth and the chief executive of Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, stated that prevention must be central to community healthcare. He noted, “This school-based programme is a win-win for children, parents, and schools.”

Roome also commended the efforts of the North Devon Dental Steering Group in ensuring that the area would be included in this initiative. He added, “I’ll keep pushing for more practical measures like this and continue pressing the Government to get a grip on the dentistry crisis we face locally.”

As the initiative rolls out, NHS Devon aims to create a positive impact on children’s dental health, ultimately contributing to a healthier future for the younger population in Devon.