The Educator Magazine U.K. May-August 2026 issue. - Magazine - Page 47
The impact of this is clear. Last year, the
rate of decay-related tooth extraction for
children and young people living in the
most deprived communities was over
three times that of those living in the
most affluent communities. Yorkshire and
Humber, home to some of the poorest
communities in England, had the highest
rate of decay-related tooth extractions for
the fourth year running. For every 100,000
children under 19 in the region, 504 had
an extraction that may involve being put
under general anaesthesia.
The frustrating truth is: tooth decay is
almost entirely preventable.
Prevention starts with awareness
Tooth decay happens when there is a
build-up of bacteria in our mouths. Dietary
sugars are then eaten by these bacteria
and over time, if sugar is eaten often
enough cavities form and the teeth may
become compromised.
However, by brushing teeth at least twice a
day, maintaining a healthy, low-sugar diet
and ensuring regular check-ups at the dentists,
this is an entirely avoidable situation.
This is where education becomes
crucial – and where teachers can make
real difference.
Parents and caregivers play the primary
role in establishing healthy routines at
home, but they cannot do it alone. Schools
can be a vital partner in reinforcing these
messages and ensuring that every child
understands the importance of good oral
hygiene. Education in schools can help
transform tooth brushing from a
reluctant routine into a lifelong habit
at home. When children understand why
they are brushing their teeth, they are far
more likely to engage.
Programmes that bring oral health
education directly into schools are proving
particularly powerful – and the BrightBites
programme, led by Dentaid the Dental
Charity and supported by Denplan, is one
example that is having an impact
The programme helps young people to
learn how to care for their teeth and
understand why it matters to them.
Together we have already reached 200,000
children in schools and community
settings across the country, with an
ambitious goal of reaching 500,000
children by 2028.
The programme’s mission is to improve
children’s oral health and raise awareness
of its vitality to overall health and life
outcomes. It is specifically focused on
reaching communities that lack access to
regular dental services, ensuring nobody
is left behind.
Schools as partners
Schools are key partners in awareness
raising, ensuring children are taught the
importance of oral hygiene from an early
age. This can take many forms: through
lessons about healthy diets and best
practice for keeping our teeth clean,
informational posters displayed in clearly
visible areas around school, or
partnerships with initiatives such as
BrightBites.
However, education alone cannot solve
this problem. For true change to come
about, national policy must evolve.
In line with this, Denplan held an event
in Parliament in October 2025,
bringing together MPs, dentists and
school children. The aim was to call for
greater preventative action from the
government to combat children’s tooth
decay in the UK, because the future of
dentistry will only be secured when urgent
care and preventative care are equally
balanced – and this begins as a child.
The evidence is clear: children who
develop poor dental habits early in life
tend to have worse oral health into
adulthood. Investing in prevention
during childhood is therefore not just a
short-term solution but a long-term public
health strategy.
A problem we can solve
The scale of our oral health crisis is
alarming, but solvable. Unlike many health
problems, tooth decay is largely avoidable.
Educational initiatives such as BrightBites
show what is possible when we work
together to promote healthier habits from
an early age.
No child should spend time in hospital and
miss out on critical learning at school
because they were failed by a broken
system.
To register for a BrightBites session, visit
here: https://www.dentaid.org/
brightbites-register-your-school/
