The Big Brush is back, with nurseries and schools signing up fast!

Oldham Council’s annual Big Brush campaign is back, encouraging as many children to brush their teeth as often as possible and to get everyone into that toothbrushing habit.

Having made the biggest oral health improvement (16.1 per cent) across Greater Manchester (GM) in the under-fives age range earlier this year, Council officers want to keep the momentum going.

A national survey measured the levels of dental decay in five-year-olds, the results of which ranked Oldham fourth amongst the 10 GM authorities – previously placed ninth.

Until Friday, November 30, the Council will be doing its bit to help stop the rot by organising brushing activities in children’s centres and libraries where participants will be rewarded with brushing tools including toothpaste, toothbrushes, timers and charts. 

Schools, nurseries and other early years settings in Oldham will also be encouraged to get involved in the Supervised Toothbrushing Programme for children age 2-5 years.

This is part of the Greater Manchester Start Well programme which involves children getting a toothbrush to keep, and there will be supervised brushing with family fluoride toothpaste every day.

So far 145 nurseries and schools in Oldham have signed up to take part in this scheme.

Oldham Libraries are also offering a variety of fun and educational events including; Bedtime Stories with Wee Willie Winkie and Dental Playbox sessions.

Please ensure you book onto the latter as places are limited – you can do this by visiting: www.oldham-council.co.uk/libevent/

Councillor Zahid Chauhan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: “We’re really keen to keep up the good work we are doing in improving children’s oral health as part of our oral health strategy – especially on the back of our great results earlier this year.

“We recognise there is still much to do though, particularly on narrowing the gap with the national average. But through a number of initiatives and campaigns, such as the Big Brush, this will help us to achieve our goals of improving our borough’s oral health.”

Oldham recently became the only borough across the city region to pilot the Greater Manchester Immunisation and Oral Health pilot.

As part of this trial, children aged two and three attending some medical practices for the flu vaccination will receive a pack containing a toothbrush, toothpaste and key oral health advice.

Don’t forget to learn about how best to brush your teeth and get general oral health advice via the official social media channels – Twitter: @OldhamCouncil / Facebook: @ILoveOldham.

For more information on this year’s Big Brush campaign and upcoming Big Brush events, please visit: www.oldham.gov.uk/bigbrush

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