Why
Data shows that 31.2% of 5-year-old children in Cheshire and Merseyside have experience of tooth decay (NDEP, 2024)[1], and tooth decay remains the most common reason for hospital admissions in children aged 5 to 9 (OHID, 2024)[2].
All Together Smiling is a 3-year evidence-based supervised toothbrushing programme that commenced in April 2024, funded by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, and hosted by Beyond, the children and young people’s transformation programme.
What
The programme is hosted by Beyond working closely with Public Health oral health leads across all nine Local Authority areas, complementing any local schemes, focusing on children aged 2 to 7 years living in the 20% most deprived (CORE20) areas across Cheshire and Merseyside.
The programme delivers a structured supervised toothbrushing intervention within eligible early years settings, primary schools, and childminders, alongside the targeted provision of free oral health packs (containing a toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, and oral health key message leaflet for families).
The programme also delivers communication campaigns to help raise awareness of the importance of oral health and share key messages.
Outcome
The intended outcomes are improved lifelong oral health habits, reduction in tooth decay amongst 5-year-olds, and fewer tooth extractions due to decay.
These outcomes will, in the long term, address health inequalities and reduce the demand for dental and urgent services locally.
Oral health key messages
Children under the age of 7 should:
- Brush twice a day
- Use family fluoride toothpaste (1450ppm)
- Under 3 years of age – a smear amount of toothpaste
- 3 years plus – a pea-size amount of toothpaste
- Spit don’t rinse after toothbrushing
- Be supervised by an adult while they brush their teeth.
Click on ‘Resources for families’ in the section below to find the All Together Smiling leaflet in multiple languages.
