Chair of the British Dental Association visits school to see a Shropshire oral health programme in action
17 July 2026
Eddie Crouch, Chair of the British Dental Association (BDA), recently visited Sandon Primary School in Stoke on Trent to observe the Brilliant Brushers supervised toothbrushing programme in action.
Mr Crouch, who has served as Chair of the BDA since 2020, spent time with pupils and staff to see first-hand how daily supervised toothbrushing is embedded within the school routine as part of efforts to improve children’s oral health.
The Brilliant Brushers programme, delivered by the Healthy Smile Team at Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, is an evidence-based supervised toothbrushing initiative designed for children aged 3–5 years. The programme supports selected early years settings and schools—particularly in areas of higher need to establish daily toothbrushing habits, reduce the risk of tooth decay, and promote lifelong oral health behaviours. Currently, more than 150 settings and over 9,000 children across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford and Wrekin are participating in the programme.
During the visit, Mr Crouch observed children taking part in supervised brushing sessions and spoke with school staff about the positive impact the programme is having on pupils’ confidence, wellbeing, and health.
Eddie Crouch, Chair of the BDA said:
"I've seen real commitment from participants during the event. The children have been fantastic. The support that they've got from the school is incredible. And, the professional support, that backs it all up is wonderful to see. The success in this particular region is something both the school and the team should be very proud of.”
The visit also provided an opportunity to showcase the critical role that schools and early years settings play in supporting public health. Supervised toothbrushing programmes are widely recognised as a simple and effective intervention to reduce inequalities in oral health outcomes and improve the health of children in more disadvantaged communities.
Rachel Beckett (Principal) said:
"We are proud to be part of the Brilliant Brushers programme and to support our pupils in developing healthy habits that will benefit them for life. It was a pleasure to welcome Mr Crouch and share the positive impact this programme is having within our school."
The Brilliant Brushers programme forms part of a wider commitment by Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust to improve oral health across communities, working in partnership with schools, local authorities, and families to prevent tooth decay and reduce health inequalities.
The highly successful Brilliant Brushers Programme is set to reach even more children during the 2026/27 academic year, with the Healthy Smile Team inviting selected early years settings and schools to join the initiative from September.
Page last reviewed: 29 September 2021
Next review due: 6 April 2026