BrightBites reaches 60,000 children

We are delighted to share that our BrightBites oral health education programme has now reached over 60,000 children. This has been made possible through our partnership with Denplan, part of Simplyhealth, which has generously donated £195,000 since late 2023, allowing us to expand the programme.

BrightBites is a fun and engaging initiative designed to educate school-aged children on key oral health topics, including toothbrushing, teeth names and functions, sugar awareness, and the importance of regular dental appointments.

Thanks to the dedication of more than 360 volunteers, we have already delivered BrightBites sessions to over 60,000 children across the UK, many of whom come from low-income families. These sessions take place in schools, nurseries, and after-school clubs, ensuring that the vital oral health education reaches those who need it most.

To help continue their positive oral health journey we provide each child with a toothbrush and toothpaste at the end of a BrightBites session to take home. With tooth decay remaining the leading cause of hospital admissions in children aged 6-10, these resources can make a real difference.

Data from Denplan’s 2024 Oral Health Survey revealed that half of parents haven’t taken their children to the dentist by the age of three, despite the official recommendation to do so as soon as their first milk teeth appear, typically at six months old. The research also found strong support for programmes like BrightBites, with 86% of parents agreeing that good oral health habits should be taught in childhood to improve lifelong health.

Andy Evans, CEO of Dentaid, said: “Reaching 60,000 children with our BrightBites oral health education programme is a significant milestone in our mission to improve awareness about the importance of toothbrushing, healthy diets and visiting the dentist. BrightBites is specifically focused on providing these messages for children at highest risk of health inequalities and we’re very grateful to all the volunteers and oral health educators who go into their communities to deliver these fun and interactive sessions. Thanks to our partnership with Denplan we are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far and look forward to helping even more children build habits that will positively impact their oral health for years to come.”

Charlotte Cook, ESG Lead at Simplyhealth and Denplan, said: “We are proud to have reached this incredible milestone so early into 2025. At Simplyhealth and Denplan, we are committed to using our business as a force for good, and we are grateful for all those who have volunteered their time so far, but to help us on our mission to deliver vital education to children on the importance of oral health and reach a minimum of 90,000 children, we need more volunteers. As tooth decay remains the most common reason for hospital admissions for children, aged 6-10, we are also calling on more education settings to register to host a BrightBites session, so we can support the oral health of the next generation.”

We welcome new volunteers to join us in delivering BrightBites sessions. No dental qualifications or expertise are required, and all materials will be provided. If you are interested in helping us make a difference, you can register to volunteer here.