SCHOOL TOOTH BRUSHING PROGRAMME Portsmouth University Dental Academy in partnership with Portsmouth city council

Tooth decay Current data suggests that half of all children have decayed, missing or filled teeth by the time they start school with rates of decay and in Portsmouth are well over the national average. Tooth decay causes discomfort and distress to children and can disrupt their ability to learn. Tooth brushing should begin once the child’s first teeth have erupted. Dental caries – Totally preventable disease Explain dental caries process Explain importance of reducing frequency & consumption of sugars Give examples of healthy snacks and key nutritional advice to pre 5 children i.e. Milk, etc

Prevention Fluoride toothpaste can help to strengthen teeth and prevent dental decay along with choosing tooth friendly snacks Teeth should be brushed twice daily using a Fluoride toothpaste containing 1,450ppm fluoride. Supervise tooth brushing up to 7 years A pea sized amount of toothpaste should be used for children 3-6yrs or thin smear 0-2yrs Use a dry tooth brush Spit don’t Rinse technique Visit your dentist at least once a year Reduce intake & frequency of sugar “keep to meal times” Choose tooth friendly foods for snacks Explain prevention dental caries & perio Spit don’t rinse Reasons for using dry brush Reinforce frequency and consumption of sugars ….keep to meal times Children should be registed with a dentist form birth – Dental Academy will take on all children under 16 Promote and ask for sugar free medicines Suggestions of healthy snacks, offer assistance & advice to help create oral health friendly snack policy/ menus

What is Brush UP? Brush UP Brush UP is supervised tooth brushing programme that is designed to improve the oral health of children in Portsmouth and increase access to dental services. The programme is ran in partnership with Portsmouth City Council. The children brush their teeth once a day in class for 2 minutes supervised by staff The supervised tooth brushing programme is an initiative that aims to increase the prevalence of good oral health from an early age in children. The programme aims to promote a holistic approach to healthy living, teaching children an important life skill. The programme benefits schools and nurseries and is part of the Portsmouth and Hampshire Dental Action Plan, which places oral health promotion at the heart of school activities. The University of Portsmouth Dental Academy will oversee the programme in schools and nurseries around the Portsmouth area, providing toothpaste and toothbrushes to school children, fluoride varnish visit in Year R along with oral health advice and education. Class teachers will be trained to run the scheme in their classroom and shown an appropriate tooth brushing technique for young children. Children will then brush their teeth once a day at school.

Programme Consent All Reception children will be offered tooth brushing and fluoride varnish. Consent is required before children can participate. Highlight that all children within the establishment should be offered tooth brushing, i.e. AM & PM part week children Highlight the importance of consent - only consented children can participate Highlight target rate of 90% returns. Highlight a record will be kept of consenting children. Highlight the best to time to distribute consents – school home visits or enrolment day Highlight that TB can be implemented at anytime of day. Preferred model – class room – more control, better compliance, peer education, quicker all round. Give examples of good practice and application

National Standards for Tooth brushing Programme Staff receive tooth brush technique training All schools are given a handbook that explains organisation, preventative practice and cross infection procedures. Handbook explains 3 standards Standard 1 – organisation Standard 2 – Effective preventive practice Standard 3 – Prevention and control of infection Explain that you will now go over the standards to ensure cross infection control and effective organisation is in place. School should have a copy of the Handbook available for all staff to access.

Effective Preventive Practice Toothpaste provided will contain 1450ppm fluoride. Pea size amount of toothpaste is dispensed onto individual paper towel/tissue. Toothbrushes will be replaced once per term or sooner if required. Toothbrushes are individually identifiable for each child. Show group the resources toothpaste (1450ppm), toothbrushes and brush bus Toothbrushes replaced once per term or sooner…. i.e. if splayed. Highlight that if dropped TB bust be disposed into the bin.

Effective Preventive Practice Children are closely supervised during the tooth brushing routine. Children are discouraged from swallowing the toothpaste during or after tooth brushing (spit don’t rinse) After tooth brushing, toothbrushes are rinsed thoroughly with cold water and replaced in the Brush Bus Highlight that it is preferred that the programme is adult lead, however it is recognised that the programme can provide an element of learning i.e. motor skills identification of own and others TB colours. Citizenship, confident contributors etc But this must be guided and supervised closely. Describe the different models of toothbrushing give examples of practice and suggestions for easy implementation I.e. Class model TB all together , Class models call each group out a time Highlight and demonstrate emptying mouth of excess toothpaste. Give examples i.e. scrunched paper towel, Designated Sink model (no more than 2 at a time, keep tap running, clean sink before and after use) Highlight that children MUST not swallow toothpaste. Discuss the rinsing of tb, Under cold running, water avoid rubbing with thumb or finger, if toothpaste is soaked into the bristles, hot water can be use to disperse this BUT MUST receive a final rinse under the cold, shake excess water off toothbrush avoid tapping on side of sink.

For information, advice and support regarding the Brush UP programme, please contact : GEMMA POTTS UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH DENTAL ACADEMY WILLIAM BEATTY BUILDING HAMPSHIRE TERRACE PORTSMOUTH PO1 2QG T: 023 9284 5285 E: DENTAL.ACADEMY@PORT.AC.UK W: WWW.PORT.AC.UK/DENTALACADEMY