UK Introduces Supervised Toothbrushing Scheme for Children

Key Takeaways

• A supervised toothbrushing programme for children aged 3–5 will begin in April 2025, targeting deprived areas.
• £11 million in funding will support local authorities, with Colgate-Palmolive supplying 23 million toothbrushes and toothpastes.
• The initiative aims to reduce oral health inequalities, with projected NHS savings of £34 million over five years.
• Stakeholders applaud the move but urge broader reforms, including action on food industry practices and expanded fluoridation.

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Programme Launch and Funding Details

The UK government has announced a national supervised toothbrushing programme targeting children aged three to five, set to launch in early years settings such as primary schools and nurseries in the most deprived areas. Starting in April 2025, the initiative will receive £11 million in funding annually, enabling local authorities to provide resources and support to participating institutions. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) estimates the programme will reach up to 600,000 children yearly, promoting consistent oral hygiene practices both in settings and at home.

Health minister Stephen Kinnock highlighted the urgency of addressing disparities: “It is shocking that a third of five-year-olds in the most deprived areas have experience of tooth decay… This initiative is part of our wider plans to revive the oral health of the nation.”

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Partnership with Colgate-Palmolive

Colgate-Palmolive will supply 23 million toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes over five years, supporting the programme’s logistics. Noel Wallace, the company’s chairman and CEO, praised the collaboration: “We’re thrilled to partner with the government… This initiative will make a real impact in preventing tooth decay and ensuring brighter futures.” The government emphasized the scheme’s evidence-based approach, citing its potential to reduce oral health inequalities within two to three years.

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Expected Outcomes and Cost Savings

The DHSC projects significant long-term savings, estimating that every £1 invested in supervised toothbrushing will save £3 in avoided NHS treatment costs—a total of £34 million over five years. Jason Wong, England’s chief dental officer, stressed the preventive value: “Toothbrushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste remains one of the best defences against tooth decay.”

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Stakeholder Reactions

The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) welcomed the move after a decade-long campaign. Media spokesperson Urshla Devalia called it “decisive action” but noted more work is needed. The British Dental Association (BDA) “applauded” the initiative as “tried and tested policy” but urged faster reforms, including stricter regulations on food industry marketing and sugar content. BDA chair Eddie Crouch remarked: “The only concern is why it’s taken a century to get here.”

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Additional Measures and Future Steps

Alongside the toothbrushing scheme, the government plans to expand water fluoridation in northeast England, benefiting 1.6 million more people. Kinnock also outlined broader dental reforms, including 700,000 additional urgent NHS appointments and a revised dental contract to improve service accessibility.