Using & implementing the BRUSH supervised toothbrushing toolkit to tackle tooth decay in children

Professor Zoe Marshman, Professor/Honorary Consultant of Dental Public Health at the University of Sheffield.
Dr Kara Gray-Burrows – Lecturer in Behavioral Sciences & Complex Intervention Methodology at the University of Leeds
Dr Peter Day – Professor of Children's Oral Health and Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry at the University of Leeds

Researchers from the University of Sheffield, University of Leeds and the Bradford Improvement Academy have developed free online resources for NHS organisations, local government, schools, nurseries and parents, as part of the BRUSH project to better support existing and new toothbrushing programmes.

A quarter of five-year-olds in England have tooth decay, this can rise up to 50 per cent in deprived areas of the country. The burden of tooth decay is significant, causing pain, as well as affecting what children eat, their speech, sleep, quality of life and attendance at nursery or school.

Treatment of decay is the most common reason why young children are admitted to hospital (33,000 each year), costing the NHS over £50 million annually.

Join this Lunch & Learn to find out more about how this new toolkit was produced, and how it will make it easier for new toothbrushing programmes to be set up, meaning more children will be able to benefit from the programmes so less children suffer from tooth decay and its consequences. It will be a chance for the team to answer any questions you have – an essential Lunch & Learn for anyone working in this area looking to improve dental health in children.