‘A one-size-fits-all-approach’ will not improve children’s oral health, say researchers

In an article by Policy@Manchester, George Kitsaras, Michaela Goodwin, and Tanya Walsh identified several ways health leaders could tackle the problem of child tooth decay in England.

Three research projects from the university’s Dental Health Unit, in partnership with Manchester’s Oral Health Improvement Team, have shown that making oral health a family priority and working closely with parents of young children can lead to changes in habits for the entire family, delivering sustained benefits for children and parents alike.

The projects

The projects include Bedtime Routines Intervention for Children (BRIC), through which the researchers co-designed and co-developed a text message-based intervention to promote beneficial bedtime routine activities, including oral hygiene practices and reduced sugar intake.