Sarah – BrightBites oral health educator

I have been working in dentistry for 27 years, starting as a trainee dental nurse and working my way up to practice management. I’ve worked in all kinds of settings – hospitals, private practices, the NHS, orthodontic practices and even the military.

The best thing about being a BrightBites oral health educator is being able to provide the right education to help children understand the importance of oral hygiene – and seeing their faces light up when they find out they’re all getting goodies (toothbrushes and toothpaste) to take home.

There are always moments when you feel like you’re making a real difference with BrightBites. For example, I was once visiting a school where a teacher – whose child attends a different school that had previously received a BrightBites session – told me that their child had gone home and taught both parents how to brush their teeth properly, and why it’s so important to do it correctly.

Some children have even emptied their bottles of juice or squash before I’ve left the classroom, just after we’ve discussed the sugar content in juice and how it can damage their teeth!

One of the most memorable things a child has said to me during a BrightBites session was when I asked, ‘Why do we need our teeth?’ and we started talking about smiling. A few children said that if we didn’t have teeth and smiled, we’d look like their grandparents – which always makes them laugh. I also love asking the children simple questions at the end and seeing just how much they’ve remembered. Their enthusiasm really makes it all worthwhile!

With the current shortage of available dentists, going into schools and delivering this education is helping children understand why looking after their teeth is so important. Hopefully it will reduce the amount of issues they have in the future, with fewer children needing fillings and extractions at a young age.