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National Supervised Toothbrushing Programme

Last updated on 05 September 2025

Hertfordshire joins the Government’s Oral Health Initiative

We are pleased to announce that Hertfordshire will be participating in the Government’s Supervised Toothbrushing Programme.

Gov.UK: Supervised toothbrushing for children to prevent tooth decay

If your school has been identified as eligible, we hope you will consider joining this important initiative. It has been carefully researched to ensure it meets government guidance in the EYFS and PSHE to provide the opportunities to participate.

Supervised toothbrushing

Update at a glance

  • Launch Date: October 2025
  • Target Group: Children aged 3–5 in nurseries and primary school reception classes
  • Purpose: Improve oral health, reduce health inequalities, and support motor skill development
  • Support Provided: Free training, toothbrushes, toothpaste, racks, and home packs
  • Delivery Partners: Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust Dental Team
  • Eligibility: Schools/settings in IMD 1–3 areas
  • Hygiene: Equipment and guidance provided to prevent cross-infection

Programme overview

The programme aims to:

  • Encourage positive oral health behaviours
  • Reduce health inequalities across the county
  • Support fine motor skill development in young children

Participating schools will receive:

  • Free training and advice
  • Free equipment: toothbrushes, toothpaste, and toothbrush racks
  • Packs and educational fact sheets for each child to take home

Who is it for?

The programme targets children aged 3 to 5 years in early years settings, including nurseries and Reception classes in primary schools, specifically in areas with the greatest health needs.

We aim to launch in October 2025, in partnership with the Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust Dental Team.

Why oral health matters

Tooth decay is the most common oral disease affecting children in England—and it’s largely preventable.

  • 22.4% of 5-year-olds and 10.7% of 3-year-olds have tooth decay (Oral Health Surveys 2020 & 2024)
  • In Hertfordshire, nearly 17% of 5-year-olds have visible tooth decay
  • Between 2021–2024, 280 children under 5 were admitted to hospital for tooth decay treatment

Tooth decay can impact:

  • Sleep, eating, speaking, and socialising
  • School attendance and performance

Local efforts already underway

Hertfordshire is already supporting oral health through:

  • Healthy Mouths Programme – for vulnerable under-5s in collaboration with Family Centres and Public Health Nursing
  • Pop-up Dental Clinics – in areas of deprivation
  • Targeted Oral Health Screening Pilot – including supervised brushing and fluoride varnish for reception-age children

How the programme works

The Department of Health and Social Care’s programme will run for one year in IMD 1–3 areas.

Each class will receive:

  • Toothbrushes, toothpaste, and racks
  • A home pack for each child
  • Training for staff from the dental team

Children will brush their teeth daily under supervision. This complements—not replaces—brushing at home.

Toothbrushing approaches

Dry toothbrushing:

  • No water or sink needed
  • Children spit into tissues or paper towels
  • Area must be easy to clean

Wet toothbrushing:

  • Brushing at a designated sink
  • Children spit into the sink under supervision

Cross-infection prevention:

  • Toothbrushes stored in hygienic racks
  • Strict hygiene protocols followed

Get involved

With your support, we can improve oral health awareness and overall wellbeing for future generations, instilling good habits into children early on.

Want more info or to speak with settings already participating?
Let us know—we’ll connect you! Email hct.hertsdentaloh@nhs.net

Last updated on 05 September 2025