MORE than 10,000 children in Devon will benefit from a supervised toothbrushing scheme, Devon County Council (DCC) has said.

Having launched earlier this week, the ‘Big Brush Club’ is a scheme for three to five-year-olds.

Under the scheme, teachers hold short, daily toothbrushing sessions alongside lessons about self-care, healthy eating and reducing sugar.

Each child is provided with a toothbrush and toothpaste pack to take home, encouraging toothbrushing to be a part of their normal daily routine, DCC says.

The scheme is now being rolled out to all Devon primary schools that have an Early Years nursery, pre-school or reception class.

So far, 10,225 children are due to take part.

This comes as new figures show a fifth of all five-year-olds in Devon have some form of tooth decay, with rates in South Hams being amongst the highest nationally.

Cabinet member for Public Health, Communities and Equality, Councillor Roger Croad, said: ‘This initiative will not only benefit the individual child but will have a positive impact on their siblings and wider family, embedding good oral health practices in their routines now and for life.’

Funded by NHS Devon, in partnership with Devon Public Health, Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council, the scheme is being delivered by dentist provider At Home Dental.

Jonathan Bouwer-Davies, Clinical Dental Adviser for NHS Devon, said: ‘We know almost a fifth of five-year-olds have tooth decay which can, in severe cases, lead to children needing hospital treatment.

‘Understanding how to brush your teeth properly is an important life skill for children.

’It takes schools five minutes a day and the benefits can be life-long.’