As World Oral Health Day approaches, a successful project to raise awareness of the importance of dental hygiene among families is continuing across County Durham.
Durham County Council works closely with nurseries and other early years settings to promote the benefits of good oral health to help reduce childhood tooth decay.
Poor oral hygiene can lead to conditions such as cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. Dental related problems also remain the most common cause of hospital admission for children aged between five and nine years old.
In 2017, the council introduced a supervised toothbrushing programme at some of its early years settings, including nurseries and school reception classes. It sees staff trained to help children, aged two to five, to clean their teeth once a day while they are attending the venue. The programme has proven a great success, with 92 settings and 5,395 children now taking part.
As well as supervised toothbrushing, sessions are also run to teach youngsters about food and drinks which are bad for their teeth and why a healthy balanced diet is important. Information is also shared with parents to help families to establish good toothbrushing routines at home.
Delivered in partnership with the NHS Oral Health Promotion Team, the scheme is part of the council’s wider approach to improving oral health and reducing inequalities in County Durham. This approach is set out in the Oral Health Promotion Strategy, which was agreed by the County Durham Health and Wellbeing Board in 2023.
This year, World Oral Health Day takes place on Thursday 20 March, and closely follows the announcement of the Government’s Oral Health Pledge. The pledge includes allocating £11 million to local authorities in England in 2025/26 to support the delivery of a national supervised toothbrushing programme in the 25 per cent most deprived areas. It also commits to expanding community water fluoridation in the North East to help reduce tooth decay, following a public consultation last year.
Cllr Chris Hood, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for adult and health services, said: “Oral health is about more than simply having a bright smile, it plays a crucial role in our overall health and wellbeing. Not only can poor oral hygiene cause tooth decay and gum disease, but research has linked it to systemic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and respiratory infections. It also affects our confidence and our ability to eat, sleep, speak, smile and socialise.
“Our supervised toothbrushing scheme is all about helping families to establish good oral hygiene habits that last a lifetime, helping to prevent tooth decay and the need for fillings and other procedures.
“World Oral Health Day is a great opportunity for us all to reflect on the importance of dental hygiene. By making small yet meaningful changes to our daily routines, we can all protect our smiles and prevent oral diseases.”
An oral health awareness session was recently held at Selby Cottage Childcare Centre in Chester-le-Street.
Manager Lisa Fenwick said: “It’s so important to develop good toothbrushing routines from a young age and the session really helped the children to understand more about oral health. They were really engaged and enjoyed interacting with the equipment and resources the team provided, especially the big set of teeth and toothbrush. Each child was given a toothbrushing pack to take home, and we were provided with additional activities to support our ongoing work to promote oral health at nursery.”
To find out more about Durham County Council’s Oral Health Promotion Strategy, visit
Key Oral Health Tips
Taking care of teeth and gums is simple but requires consistency. Here are some essential tips:
- Brush Twice a Day: Use fluoride toothpaste and brush for at least two minutes twice a day, with one of those times being before bed.
- Floss Daily: Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between the teeth, preventing cavities and gum disease.
- Limit Sugary Foods and Drinks: Excessive sugar intake contributes to tooth decay; opt for healthier alternatives.
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps wash away food particles and bacteria.
- Visit Your Dentist Regularly: Routine check-ups and cleanings help prevent and detect oral health issues early.
