- Supervised toothbrushing scheme in schools shows positive progress in a bid to overcome health inequalities in paediatric dental health
- The BRUSH project, involving researchers from the University of Sheffield, has expanded over the past three years with 81 per cent of local authorities now delivering supervised toothbrushing in schools, nurseries and childminders
- The number of children benefiting from the scheme more than doubled, rising from 106,273 children in 2022 to 238,636 in 2025
- Around a quarter of five-year-old children in England have tooth decay - rising to up to 50 per cent in areas of deprivation
- Supervised toothbrushing is one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to prevent dental decay and reduce oral health inequalities
Supervised toothbrushing in schools is making positive progress in a bid to overcome health inequalities in paediatric dental health.
A significant expansion in the BRUSH supervised toothbrushing project, which is now delivered in 81 per cent of local authorities, has been welcomed by the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD).
The findings of a new national survey published in the British Dental Journal (BDJ) show that participation has more than doubled, rising from 106,273 children in 2022 to 238,636 in 2025.
This demonstrates a continued positive trajectory since researchers from the University of Sheffield and University Leeds highlighted a number of recommendations to overcome barriers to the rollout of supervised toothbrushing which have now been implemented.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research-funded BRUSH project has conducted a series of surveys since 2022 and the latest results show 81 per cent of local authorities were delivering STB in 2025, compared with 48 per cent in 2022 and 59 per cent in 2024.
Professor Zoe Marshman, Professor in Dental Public Health at the University of Sheffield and BSPD spokesperson, said: "Dental health is very important to wellbeing so it is vital that good habits start young. That's why it is great to see a continued positive trajectory for supervised toothbrushing across England.
"Many of the recommendations called for in previous surveys have now been delivered, and we are seeing real momentum behind this vital preventative work. Securing multi-year funding is a particularly important step forward. Sustainable investment is essential if we are to maintain progress and ensure that children in the most deprived communities benefit from this proven intervention."
The results show the impact of sustained advocacy, strengthened local partnerships, and the growing recognition that supervised toothbrushing is one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to prevent dental decay and reduce oral health inequalities.
This continued positive trajectory represents evidence-based policy with the launch of the National supervised toothbrushing programme in March 2025.
Multi-year funding has now been secured for the supervised toothbrushing scheme which addresses one of the most persistent barriers identified in earlier surveys by the BRUSH team. This will ensure stability, workforce capacity and long-term planning.
Dr Peter Day, BSPD Member and Professor of Children's Oral Health and Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, said: "As a paediatric dentist, I see every day how poor dental health hits the most vulnerable children hardest. The BRUSH study shows real progress is being made: twice as many children are now benefiting from supervised toothbrushing programmes, many of these located in deprived neighbourhoods. Crucially, the study highlights the practical challenges that must be addressed to turbo boost the expansion of the national programme."
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