Derbyshire dentist distributes 6,000 toothbrushes to address children's dental access gap
NHS access crisis driving preventive outreach: practical model other practices can replicate.
A Kirk Hallam-based dentist, Kev Chavda, discovered that a quarter of children in his area had never registered with a dental practice during a school visit before Christmas 2025. In response, he developed and launched a structured toothbrush distribution project across 35 primary schools and nurseries, handing out more than 6,000 toothbrushes since January 2026.
How the toothbrush project works
Each school visit follows a consistent format covering tooth decay, brushing technique, and establishing a two-minute brushing habit. Children receive an interactive brushing game and an original song to reinforce the message at home. Every child receives a toothbrush, and schools receive a formal letter included in parent newsletters to extend the prevention message to families. The project operates on a non-profit model, with each toothbrush costing approximately 25 pence, meaning around £75 funds a full school delivery of approximately 300 brushes.
Local businesses sponsor individual schools and are encouraged to make the delivery themselves, receiving a photo opportunity with the headteacher for social media promotion. Local businesses have contributed around £1,000 to date. The model has attracted interest from other dentists: seven have ordered personalised brushes to deliver in their own areas, with participating dentists collectively committing around 60,000 toothbrushes to schools.
Addressing NHS dental access disparities
The project responds to growing NHS dental access problems. Research by Healthwatch England found that private dental use among financially struggling households nearly doubled from 14% in 2023 to 27% in 2026, as NHS provision remains out of reach for many families. People in deprived areas are almost twice as likely to report going private because they could not find an NHS dentist. Chavda argues that the issue is not that communities are hard to reach but that systems have not reached them effectively. He recommends practices order around 1,500 brushes, printed with the practice logo, which is sufficient for five schools. His goal is to deliver at least 100,000 toothbrushes per year within 12 months and establish a repeatable model that dentists in different towns can adopt.
Frequently asked questions
How many children in Kirk Hallam had never registered with a dentist?
Around a quarter of children surveyed during Chavda's school visit had never registered with a dental practice, despite the practice being within walking distance and accepting NHS children.
How much does the toothbrush distribution project cost per child?
Each toothbrush costs approximately 25 pence, meaning around £75 funds a full school delivery of approximately 300 brushes. Local businesses can sponsor individual schools.
How many toothbrushes have participating dentists committed to distribute?
Seven other dentists have ordered personalised brushes to deliver in their own areas. Collectively, participating dentists have committed around 60,000 toothbrushes to schools.
What does Healthwatch England research show about NHS dental access?
Private dental use among financially struggling households nearly doubled from 14% in 2023 to 27% in 2026. People in deprived areas are almost twice as likely to report going private because they could not find an NHS dentist.
How many toothbrushes has Chavda distributed so far?
Chavda has handed out more than 6,000 toothbrushes across 35 primary schools and nurseries since January 2026.
