Denplan Gives £1.2M Boost To Children's BrightBites Scheme
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- Published: Friday, 20 June 2025 08:40
- Written by Guy Tuggle
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Dental payment plan provider Denplan, part of the Simplyhealth Group, is to donate £1.2 million over the next three years to increase the reach of the BrightBites oral health education programme, delivered by Dentaid The Dental Charity. Pictured is Claudia Nicholls, Chief Customer Officer Simplyhealth/Denplan at an Andover Primary School BrightBites session.
Denplan first partnered with Dentaid in 2023 to deliver the BrightBites oral health education programme. It has reached almost 112,000 UK children and aims to reach 500,000, at 78 venues by July 2028. It is hoped 93,000 children each month will benefit.
The announcement comes as tooth decay continues to be the most common reason for hospital admission for children aged five to nine. 19,381 children in the age bracket were admitted for treatment in 2024. Meanwhile, data shows that 1.1 million children live in hygiene poverty in Great Britain, with children in deprived areas twice as likely to have decayed teeth as those in the most affluent areas.
An identified and desperate need for better oral health support for children prompted the Labour government to introduce supervised toothbrushing schemes for three- to five-year-olds in early years settings for children in the most deprived areas. This approach had also been identified by the previous government as a prudent intervention.
Designed for primary school-aged children, BrightBites is a fun and informative programme that covers toothbrushing, teeth names and functions, sugar awareness and the importance of regular dental appointments.
Paul Schreier, CEO of Simplyhealth, accompanied by Denplan colleagues, joined BrightBites volunteers to visit schools across Andover to teach children about toothbrushing and the importance of oral health.
“There is an urgent need for dental support for children to improve their dental health. Through the provision of oral health education in schools, BrightBites can make a huge difference to children’s lives, helping to prevent needless suffering from leaving dental issues unaddressed" Mr Schreir said in a speech celebrating the announcement of Denplan’s latest investment.
“Good oral hygiene practice, such as toothbrushing and regular dentist check-ups that continue into adulthood, will help improve children’s oral health and equip the next generation of adults with good habits to prevent the need for urgent or emergency treatment.”
BrightBites In Action
Beyond the initial in-person sessions, BrightBites provides teachers and parents with resources designed to work alongside the curriculum to help them encourage children to improve their toothbrushing. Each child is given a toothbrush and toothpaste to take back home. This is an important aspect of the programme’s prevention aims, with some families unable to afford oral hygiene products.
One in five (21%) parents said their children brush less than twice per day or not at all, according to last year’s Oral Health Survey from Denplan. BrightBites ensures that every child who participates is given a toothbrush and toothpaste to encourage them to be enthusiastic about their oral health journey, with around 220,000 items gifted so far as part of the programme.
Picture Credit PA Photo
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