More settings across Cheshire and Merseyside complete training to deliver supervised toothbrushing programmes
Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Congratulations to all the early years, childminder, and primary school settings who have successfully completed training between July to September 2025 to deliver supervised toothbrushing, as part of the All Together Smiling programme.
217 settings, 41% of those eligible, are now delivering daily supervised toothbrushing programmes supporting 9,395 children!
The programme target is a minimum of 262 settings (50%) taking part – this is required to start to see a difference in our children’s oral health.
Now is the perfect time for more settings to come on board and help us reach this target – together we can make an even bigger difference to children’s oral health.
Settings have shared why they have decided to take part, and why improving children’s oral health is so important:
“I feel this is such a positive initiative. As practitioners working with young children and families, we assume that things like toothbrushing is part of every child's routine, but quite often it is not. We have always tried to promote toothbrushing within our setting...I feel being a part of this will reinforce the importance for our families.”
“It will benefit children that may not be brushing their teeth as regularly as they should be, and it will allow staff members to encourage healthy toothbrushing habits.”
“Children taking part in supervised toothbrushing in the nursery reinforces the importance of oral health and how to brush teeth properly... doing this with their peers encouraged children who are more reluctant.”
Local parents have shared the difference the programme has made at home:
“My child has always been reluctant to brush their teeth at home but since doing the supervised toothbrushing at nursery, it has become much easier and is no longer a battle to get him to brush at home.”
"We have really benefited from this programme, my child comes home very excited and shows me how he brushes his teeth in class, he enjoys brushing his teeth now."
“I used to fight with my child to get them to brush their teeth and now they allow me to brush their teeth with them.”
All Together Smiling is an evidence-based supervised toothbrushing programme, supporting children aged 2 to 7, offered to eligible settings situated within the 20% most deprived communities across Cheshire and Merseyside.
For more information on the All Together Smiling programme, or to see if your setting is eligible to take part, contact the programme at alltogethersmiling@alderhey.nhs.uk.