Background – Many oral health programmes and strategies around the world include the encouragement of supervised tooth brushing programmes, particularly in schools. However, these are consistently undermined due to the inappropriateness of the traditional tube of toothpaste in such mass brushing environments.

Firstly, measurement of dose is based on estimation, leading not only to the risk of too little or too much toothpaste being given, but also making estimation of usage (and therefore stock control) impossible. Secondly, speed of administration of toothpaste on to brushes using a tube is slow, particularly when care is being taken to dispense a consistent dose. Minimising the time taken to implement a daily tooth brushing programme, in order to ensure as little disruption as possible is caused to the school day, is paramount and key to school/teacher cooperation, and thus programme sustainability. Thirdly, cross infection control is poor using a tube of toothpaste due to the necessary scraping motion across different brushes to release the toothpaste from the nozzle. School brushing programmes in the UK involve the squeezing of blobs of toothpaste on to sheets of laminate paper, which are then scraped on to toothbrushes from the sheet – a messy and time consuming business. Fourthly, particularly in the developing world, school programmes have often been undermined by the theft of tubes of toothpaste. Small tubes, compared to the dispenser, are easily stolen, have a re-sale market, and due to the estimation of dose, stock control is very difficult exacerbated by the speed at which tubes are used up due to their small volume.  

Therefore, Dentaid set about designing a toothpaste dispenser which eliminated many of these problems. After developing and testing several ideas over three years, a prototype was developed and piloted in two separate schools programmes in Uganda and Wales in 2006. In these initial pilots, the Dentaid toothpaste dispenser was proven considerably more accurate/consistent in terms of dosage, quicker to administer, and eliminated cross-infection risk. Furthermore, no incidence of thefts of toothpaste were recorded, and finally, if put into volume production (and discounting initial mould costs), the dispenser packaging was shown to be as cheap as using traditional tubes. 

Results have been conclusive enough that this product can now be put into production. However, at the same time larger and more robust pilot programmes need to be implemented.

Brief Description – To implement and test design improvements and additional safety features, followed by production of the final bracket moulds. To purchase all raw materials (dispenser components, bracket, toothpaste) and set up a suitable filling environment to prepare dispensers for pilots and other programmes. To design and implement two new larger pilot programmes. To promote and advocate the system internationally to encourage its implementation in new and existing supervised tooth brushing programmes around the world.

Area of activity/(Partner Organisations) – Implementation and testing of final design changes in UK. Bracket moulding in China (Rieke). Two major pilots likely in UK and a middle or low-income country. Promotion and advocacy of system worldwide. 

Strategic Partners & Consultants – Dr Ivor Chestnutt (Professor of Dental Public Health, University of Wales, Cardiff), David Purdell-Lewis (Ex Director of External Affairs, Unilever plc) Rieke (Englass) Packaging Systems Ltd.    

Anticipated Outcome

• The toothpaste dispenser will replace the use of individual tubes in supervised tooth brushing programmes around the world, vastly improving their efficiency, and as a result their prevalence.