Helping Children Smile Brighter in West Berkshire

West Berkshire Council will soon be launching a supervised toothbrushing programme for

children aged 3–5 years across 15 preschool and school settings.

Supported by national government funding announced in March 2025, the initiative aims to tackle oral health inequalities and help young children build lifelong healthy habits.

Currently, in West Berkshire, around 17% of 5-year-olds experience tooth decay, which is a preventable issue that can affect eating, sleeping, and overall wellbeing. Through daily supervised brushing in our early years and school settings, this new programme will give children the best start for a healthy smile.

Over the next year, the Council will work with education, NHS partners, and local stakeholders to roll out the programme and offer participating settings the chance to gain Healthy Smiles Accreditation which recognises excellence in oral health promotion.