Supervised Toothbrushing

The Childsmile toothbrushing programme is designed to:

Supervised Toothbrushing Programme

This programme has been introduced at nursery and school, to ensure that children have access to toothbrushes and toothpaste but also to support the basic life skill and routine of toothbrushing.

National Toothbrushing Standards have been developed and are recognised as best practice guidance for delivering a daily supervised Toothbrushing Programme.

The Childsmile team’s role is to ensure that the establishment receives:

  • resources
  • training
  • monitoring and support

Resources

The establishment requires access to the appropriate documentation including the abbreviated standards which should be displayed in the toothbrushing area(s). 

Establishments should also be supplied with enough stock of toothbrushes and Childsmile fluoride toothpaste to last them between the two yearly visits.

There is a passive consent process within this programme. Your team will provide an annual toothbrushing letter to establishments involved to explain the process.  Establishments will be responsible for their own register of children who have opted-out of toothbrushing but Childsmile should ensure that the process is robust.

Training

The Childsmile team will support everyone involved in the toothbrushing within each establishment.  Local training may be delivered differently in each health board but the session will cover all aspects of the standards. 

The purpose of the training is to enable staff in participating establishments to be able to understand and apply the National Standards.  Any new members of staff require to be trained before carrying out the programme.  All existing staff should receive annual updates.

Monitoring and support

Every establishment will receive a visit at least twice per school year by NHS staff to monitor the programme against the national toothbrushing standards.  This visit should be recorded on the ‘brushing standards visit screens’ after each on the Health Informatics Centre (HIC) data system.

During this visit it would be advisable to cover the following:

  • Check stock levels to ensure there is enough to last until the next planned visit.
  • Deliver and arrange for the home packs to be distributed.
  • Remind and collect any items for Recycle and Smile.
  • Brushing Standards monitoring visit.
  • Facilitate training as required.
  • Also consider whether Fluoride Varnish consents drop off /pick up can be carried out.
  • Provide feedback – this is a great opportunity to support the school by hearing their challenges and congratulating them on their engagement.

While visiting the school it is important to make the most of this contact point and ensure that they feel supported with anything Childsmile related and perhaps dental related in some circumstances.

Recycle and Smile – any toothbrushes and toothpaste which requires recycling should be returned to base according to the local process. 

HIC

Monitoring visits require to be logged on HIC to identify adherence to the toothbrushing standards and also as a way to collect data on the number of establishments participating in the programme.

This page is currently under review if you have any feedback please email nss.childsmile@nhs.scot