d n a t s c h Enrichment
BRIGHTBITES
Get your teeth into oral health education
I
n 2023, children missed 15 million school days because of dental problems. BrightBites is a fun and engaging oral health
education programme created by Dentaid The Dental Charity, at a time when tooth decay remains the most common reason for hospital admissions in children aged between five and nine. Funded and supported by dental
plan specialists Denplan, BrightBites is on a mission to reach 500,000 school-age children. Volunteers from the dental community visit schools, with a particular focus on areas where children are at risk from social exclusion. They deliver a lively, interactive 30-minute presentation that covers
toothbrushing, the names and functions of teeth, sugar awareness and the importance of attending regular dental appointments. The schools’ package comes with
a range of resources, including toothbrushing charts, stickers, recipes and healthy teeth leaflets. Each child leaves the session with a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste and a smile. In addition, a suite of classroom resources supports children and their families in looking after their teeth, with posters, leaflets and teaching guides available to download from the website. l Schools can register for a free oral health session at
dentaid.org/ brightbites-register-your-school
‘It really captured
their attention’ Claire Webb is a family support worker at Andover C of E Primary School, Andover (191 pupils)
Before the visit, the children’s knowledge of oral hygiene was quite limited. We were pleasantly surprised by how quickly they adopted and used the correct vocabulary related to dental care. We’ve had ongoing concerns about the children’s dental health and understanding of oral hygiene. The children particularly enjoyed the interactive element of the session, which really captured their attention. The activity about sugar content in drinks, in particular, sparked a lot of excitement and discussion. The free toothbrush and toothpaste provided a strong incentive for children to take care of their teeth.
School Fundraising SPRING 2026 53
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BY EMMA GRIFFIN; IMAGE: MATT ALEXANDER/PA PHOTO
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