Brush Bus comes to Bridlington

04 November, 2015

Kirsten Barnes and Isaac Dixon learn about tooth brushing from Emma Raper, oral health educator

Children at two of Bridlington’s primary schools will be fighting the battle against tooth decay thanks to the Brush Bus, an innovative toothbrushing programme from City Health Care Partnership CIC, bringing the number of schools in the town taking part to eight.

The Brush Bus is teaches children aged from three to six (Early Years to Year 1) to brush their teeth properly. Oral health educator Emma Raper demonstrates the best technique to use on Dipsy the Dinosaur (who is equipped with a full set of shiny gnashers) and gives each child their own labelled toothbrush to use in school after lunch. A new brush is issued each term and every year the children get a take-home pack, to encourage their parents and any other siblings to get on board the Brush Bus too.

Angela Spencer, headteacher at Our Lady and St Peter Primary, is delighted that children in the school will be enjoying Brush Bus benefits. “Oral hygiene is so important and if we can teach our children to take care of their teeth when they’re young, hopefully they will adopt good dental habits for life. The training is such good fun; the children love Dipsy and the giant teeth and they are all really keen to start using their new toothbrushes.”

Children in Year 1 were enthusiastic about what they’d learned. “I liked the dinosaur”, said one. Another said they had learned that “we should brush our teeth at night and in the morning” and “not to eat things that have lots of sugar in”. “We shouldn’t drink juice at bedtime” said one child, “Water and milk are the best!”.

To find out more about City Health Care Partnership CIC’s oral health service, go to www.chcporalhealth.org.uk.