Rapper Professor Green has teamed up with the NHS to launch a competition for primary schools to encourage healthy toothbrushing habits.
The ‘Read all about it’ rapper told the BBC he only realised the negative physical and mental health impacts of neglecting oral health later in life. He said he now took his own son’s toothbrushing routine very seriously alongside a healthy diet.
Professor Green will now judge a contest for schools in the south west of England to sing their own version of the NHS Big Brush Club’s theme song. He said: ‘Getting this right for children will result in fewer kids being admitted to hospital with avoidable tooth decay and better oral health for them in adulthood. I cannot wait to review and judge the competition entries.’
The competition will run until the end of May. It also has a colouring category in which entrants can colour in the Big Brush Club’s mascots. Winning children will receive prizes for themselves and their schools.
‘High rates of tooth decay’
The Big Brush Club includes daily toothbrushing sessions for children aged three to five in 895 schools and pre-schools in the south west. It also delivers education on oral health, healthy eating and reducing sugar intake.
Reena Patel is a consultant in dental public health at NHS England. She said ‘very high rates of tooth decay’ in the south west were causing ‘pain, infections, and difficulties with eating, sleeping, smiling, and socialising’.
She continued: ‘The Big Brush Club is about supporting children and parents at an early stage to reduce sugar intake and create good habits at home that can last a lifetime.’
The NHS said almost one fifth of five-year-olds in the south west had tooth decay despite it being largely preventable. Tooth extraction was also the most common reason for hospital admissions in the six to 10 age group.
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