Schoolchildren get their teeth into lesson with a difference

Year 2 children in 24 primary schools across Torbay have been brushing up on their dental health thanks to a new project we've funded. The scheme, known as Open Wide and Step Inside, has seen the Dental Outreach Team go in to schools to deliver 45-minute oral health education lessons.

Year 2 children in 24 primary schools across Torbay have been brushing up on their dental health thanks to a new project we've funded.

The scheme, known as Open Wide and Step Inside, has seen the Dental Outreach Team go in to schools to deliver 45-minute oral health education lessons.

The outreach team is run by the Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, which delivers programmes across Devon and Cornwall.

The lesson includes a 15-minute animated film about a character who doesn’t look after his teeth and has never visited the dentist, leading to him developing tooth decay.

Many Torbay children are now or have been in this position due to the pandemic and a reduction in NHS dental capacity.

An interactive session follows the film, teaching important messages around oral health.

Each child receives a goody bag containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, two-minute timer and a sticker and each class also receives a resource story book for the school library so good habits can continue long after the lesson ends.

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, Torbay Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “We set up this programme after we noticed the concerning deterioration in children’s oral health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Almost a quarter of five-years olds currently experience tooth decay, which leads to the child needing multiple extractions under general anaesthetic. Tooth decay is largely preventable, so the promotion of better oral health in young children needs to be a top priority.  

“In Torbay, the number of hospital admissions linked to tooth decay and resulting in extractions in those under 19 years old is the highest in the South West.

“Children in the Year 2 age range tend to be very responsive to these important oral health messages. Many schools don’t have the time or resources to deliver this training so we were happy to step in and help fill the gap.”

Karen Burn, Oral Health Educator from the outreach team, said: “It’s been a privilege to deliver the Open Wide and Step Inside programme to primary schools in Torbay – 77 per cent of the Bay’s primaries have taken up this offer.

“The programme is designed to engage children to think about their oral health and how important it is to clean their teeth twice a day and understand the impact of sugar in their diet.

“All the schools we have visited have been very accommodating and the children have been amazing in contributing to the sessions.

“Raising the importance of better oral health is our goal and this project has definitely achieved this.”

Lucy Drohan, Assistant Headteacher at Shiphay Learning Academy, one of the schools which took part, said: “We already talk to children about dental health but it’s important to keep sharing the message.”

Shiphay Year 2 pupil Dexter said: “If you don’t look after your teeth they will fall out and we won’t be able to eat food. I really enjoyed watching the film. We were taught to put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the brush and brush for two minutes.”

The programme finishes later this month.