Early years toothbrushing programme launches in St Helens with free children's dental checks

Article date: 29 May 2025

Sponsored by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, the programme is delivered in schools by the St Helens Wellbeing Service (commissioned by the council) in partnership with Alder Hey's All Together Smiling team. It teaches children how to brush their teeth properly with adult supervision, helping improve their oral health from an early age.

The launch event coincides with National Smile Month (12 May - 12 June) and will bring together council and healthcare partners, the NHS Trust's Brush Bus, and local children's health mascots Captain Tuck and Crocosmile.

Also attending is the popular Smile Squad from Liverpool University Dental School, offering free dental health checks for young children. These checks will be carried out by dental students under the supervision of experienced dental professionals, and are part of a wider mission to improve early oral health in the community.

Improving dental hygiene among children in St Helens is particularly important, as more than a third of the borough's 5-year-olds had visual tooth decay in 2024. This is notably higher than England and North West averages of 22.4 and 28.7 per cent - underscoring the importance of these children's oral health programmes.

Tooth decay is the leading cause of hospital admissions for children aged 6 to 10. Children in less affluent areas are more likely to experience poor oral health, often resulting in tooth extractions. It also impacts their education, with children missing an average of three school days per year due to dental issues. Poor oral health can also affect speech, self-confidence, and overall development.

Parents and carers are reminded to:

• Start brushing as soon as a baby's teeth come through.
• Help children brush until they are at least seven years old.
• Brush twice daily for two minutes using fluoride toothpaste.
• And remember, NHS dental care for children is free.

Councillor Andy Bowden, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said:

"While we've already been delivering supervised brushing sessions in early years settings for a little while with great feedback from staff and children, we're excited to officially launch the programme with this event at Central Link Family Hub alongside our regional health partners.

"I'm especially pleased to welcome back the Smile Squad, who in previous visits have provided hundreds of free dental health checks to local children. For some, this was the very first time they'd been seen by a dental professional, with the familiar and welcoming setting of our Family Hubs helping to settle nerves and start to build positive, healthy habits and bright smiles for life.

"The impact of poor oral hygiene among children isn't just physical - it can affect their confidence, learning, and development well into adult life. That's why improving dental health and developing good hygiene habits at this early stage is crucial."

Find out more about the supervised toothbrushing programme and children's oral health generally at Central Link Family Hub on 4 June, 10am-2pm. The event will also feature interactive sessions for young children and their families, and goody bags with toothbrushes, toothpaste, and helpful oral health advice.