Sefton children receive free dental packs to combat rising tooth decay

Eleanor Thompson Author 2026-05-13 13:41 3 min read

A wooden toothbrush, toothpaste tube, and a small brown teddy bear on a dark surface.

Contents

Dental health challenges in Cheshire and Merseyside
Supervised brushing and the spit not rinse method
Expanding access to Sefton nurseries and schools

More than 15,200 children across Sefton and the wider region are now participating in daily supervised toothbrushing sessions at school as part of a major public health expansion. The All Together Smiling programme has scaled up its operations to include over 300 early years settings, childminders, and schools, aiming to instill lifelong hygiene habits from a young age.

As part of this initiative, families across Sefton have received thousands of oral health packs. Each kit contains a toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, and accessible guidance for parents to continue the routine at home. The distribution focuses on ensuring that every child, regardless of their socioeconomic background, has the basic tools required to maintain dental hygiene.

Dental health challenges in Cheshire and Merseyside

Recent health data indicates that tooth decay remains a significant challenge for families in the region. Approximately 30% of five-year-olds in Cheshire and Merseyside currently suffer from tooth decay, a figure that sits notably higher than the England national average. The disparity is even more pronounced in deprived areas of Sefton, where children are statistically more likely to require tooth extractions under general anesthesia in a hospital setting.

Medical professionals note that tooth decay is the primary reason children aged five to nine are admitted to hospitals across the country. Beyond the immediate physical pain, poor oral health has been linked to disrupted sleep patterns, difficulties with eating and speech development, and a measurable loss of confidence in social settings. Schools participating in the programme report that dental issues are a frequent cause of avoidable absences, directly impacting a child’s educational progress.

Sefton children receive free dental packs to combat rising tooth decay

Supervised brushing and the spit not rinse method

The All Together Smiling programme relies on supervised daily brushing within educational settings to guarantee that children receive at least one high-quality cleaning session per day. Staff members at participating Sefton nurseries and schools undergo specialized training to facilitate these sessions safely and effectively.

One of the central components of the staff training is the “spit not rinse” technique. Educators are taught to ensure children spit out excess toothpaste but do not rinse their mouths with water afterward. Rinsing immediately after brushing washes away the concentrated fluoride in the remaining toothpaste, reducing its preventative benefits. The training also covers the correct amount of toothpaste for different age groups and the hygienic storage of brushes to prevent cross-contamination.

For children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), the programme provides adapted tools and bespoke guidance. These resources are designed to support children who may have sensory sensitivities or physical difficulties that make traditional brushing routines challenging.

Expanding access to Sefton nurseries and schools

The programme continues to seek new partners among eligible settings in the borough to further reduce health inequalities. By integrating dental care into the daily school routine, the initiative removes the barrier of access for families who may struggle to afford supplies or find regular dental appointments in a stretched primary care system.

Local educators have highlighted the immediate necessity of the scheme. A nursery manager in a high-deprivation area of Sefton confirmed that the programme provides essential support for families who might otherwise lack the resources to prioritize preventative dental care. The long-term goal remains a steady reduction in the number of local children requiring emergency hospital intervention for preventable oral health issues.

Educational settings in Sefton that are not yet part of the initiative can contact the programme coordinators at Alder Hey to check their eligibility. The All Together Smiling programme is specifically targeting areas where health outcomes are currently below the national average to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow up with a healthy smile.

Source: Sefton Council