Paige’s BrightBites volunteering story
I have been a dental nurse since 2021 and I’m currently training to become a Dental Therapist at Cardiff University. With five years in the industry, I’ve seen first hand how much of a difference we can make at every level of care.
The most rewarding part BrightBites volunteering is definitely giving back to the community. There is something incredibly fulfilling about stepping out of the clinical environment and using my skills to empower children to take charge of their own health.
One of the best parts of a BrightBites session is the ‘aha!’ moment during our guess the sugar-level game. Seeing the children’s faces when they realise how much sugar is hidden in ‘healthy’ fruit juices, and their genuine ‘grossed out’ reactions to fizzy drinks is priceless. It’s the moment information turns into a conscious choice for them.
I’ve also noticed immediate impact on the children. A few days after a session at a local nursery, a mother told my colleague her daughter’s attitude toward brushing had completely transformed. This was because the ‘tooth fairy’ had come into the school and encouraged brushing, and now the child was actually excited to brush her teeth.
The mum said, “It’s made a really big impact. She’s really keen to brush her teeth and she’s telling me in the morning and before bed that she wants to brush and is loving the toothbrush and toothpaste!”. Seeing that shift from a daily struggle to a fun routine is exactly why I do this!
Oral health education is so important because in dentistry, prevention is everything. By educating children early, we aren’t just teaching them how to brush, we are instilling lifelong habits. My goal is to give them the tools they need now to ensure they have healthy, confident smiles well into the future and play my part in the movement to achieve a ‘caries-free generation’.