Buckinghamshire Council, working in partnership with Community Dental Services CIC (CDS), has launched a new oral health improvement service aimed at improving oral health and reducing health inequalities among children and young people across Buckinghamshire.
The Buckinghamshire Oral Health Improvement Team will work closely with local communities and education settings to promote good oral health and support those most at risk of poor oral health outcomes.
The launch follows a successful supervised toothbrushing pilot at Elmhurst School in Aylesbury where Reception children have been taking part in a daily brushing routine since November 2025, with staff reporting high levels of participation and enthusiasm from pupils.
Maintaining good oral health plays a vital role in overall health, wellbeing and quality of life. Poor oral health can lead to pain, difficulties eating and speaking, poor nutrition, and a loss of confidence, preventing people from fully participating in everyday life. Tooth decay remains the leading cause of hospital admissions among children aged six to ten in England.
The new service will deliver a range of evidence-based oral health improvement programmes tailored to local needs, working with partners to target support where it can have the greatest impact.
Key areas of work will include:
- Delivering supervised toothbrushing programmes in schools and early years settings.
- Providing Oral Health promotion sessions that aim to educate and support CYP, staff, parents and carers about ways in which to improve oral health.
Through these initiatives, Buckinghamshire Council and CDS aim to improve oral health awareness, encourage healthy habits, and help reduce inequalities, ensuring more local residents can enjoy the benefits of good oral health throughout their lives.
Helen Paisley, Chief Executive of CDS, is delighted at the opportunity to deliver a new oral health improvement service for Buckinghamshire: “We are proud to be working in partnership with Buckinghamshire Council to launch this important oral health improvement service. Good oral health is fundamental to overall wellbeing, and by working closely with schools, families, healthcare providers and local communities, we can help give children and adults across Buckinghamshire the knowledge, support and healthy habits they need to enjoy better oral health for life.”
Public Health Consultant at Buckinghamshire Council, Daniel Flecknoe said “We want every child in Buckinghamshire to have the best start in life, and good dental health is an important part of that. Our new Best Start in Life Plan 2026-29 sets out how we will support families early, build healthy habits, and make sure help is easy to find. This new service will teach children simple ways to look after their teeth and stay healthy from a young age. This will help to prevent them from experiencing the anxiety, pain and even hospital admissions that can be caused by tooth decay.”
Kirsty Needham, Headteacher at Elmhurst School in Aylesbury, said: “We have seen first-hand the positive impact this programme has had on our children, helping them develop good oral health habits that will benefit them for years to come. We are proud to have been involved in the pilot and are excited that other Great Learners Trust schools are now planning to come on board, enabling even more children to benefit from this fantastic initiative.”
