Islington oral health promotion

Fluoride Varnish Programme

  • Whittington Health delivers targeted fluoride varnish to children aged 3–7 in Children’s Centres and Primary Schools.
  • Until November 2025, schools with high % of free school meals received two applications per year.
  • From November 2025, provision will reduce to 10 primary schools, each receiving one application annually.
  • All schools will receive materials promoting fluoride varnish at high street dental practices.

Supervised Toothbrushing

  • Islington Public Health has secured £53,384 from DHSC to expand supervised toothbrushing for 3–5-year-olds.
  • Funding targets children in the 20% most deprived LSOAs, with flexibility to extend existing schemes.
  • Collaboration is underway with NCL ICB, public health leads, and NHS dental commissioners.
  • A London STB Toolkit and NHS England guidance has been created to direct his work that includes costing, service specs, and evaluation tools) support implementation.
  • The roll-out of the programme will start in October 2025 and complements two existing STB programmes:
    1. NCL ICB-funded supervised toothbrushing programme – targeted at settings in 5 most deprived wards
    2. Camden & Islington Oral Health Promotion Contract (2023–2028) that includes supervised toothbrushing in targeted settings (mainly Children’s Centres)
  • Staff in early years settings that accept the offer will receive training, resources, and guidance on adapting delivery for children with additional needs and diverse backgrounds.
  • Parents/carers will receive consent packs, home hygiene videos, and take-home brushing kits.

Colgate/Palmolive Toothbrush Donation

  • As part of the DHSC initiative, Colgate-Palmolive is donating toothbrush and toothpaste packs for 3–5-year-olds over the next 5 years.
  • Surplus stock may be distributed via family hubs, VCS organisations, food banks, and GPs (plans in development).
  • A supply of toothbrushes can be provided to High Street Dentists to offer to children aged 3-5 who live in deprived ward (LSOA 1 and 2).

NCL Dental Health Project for Asylum Seekers

The NCL Dental Health Project is a collaborative initiative designed to improve oral health outcomes for asylum seekers residing in contingency hotels across North Central London (NCL). The programme addresses both urgent dental needs and long-term access barriers through mobile clinics, education, and support with NHS registration.

  • The project group is working with Dentaid to deliver accessible, high-quality dental care for asylum seekers, covering both urgent treatment and preventive support.
  • Islington hosts one contingency hotel for asylum seekers – the Barbican Thistle Hotel – which has received one Dentaid mobile dental clinic visit to date, in July 2025.
  • Eight patients received urgent dental care, and residents were supported to register with local NHS dentists.
  • Language barriers are a major concern, as many asylum seekers speak limited English, making it difficult to access dental care.
  • The programme is led by Lucy Prest from Barnet Council. For any queries, please contact her directly at lucy.prest@barnet.gov.uk

For any questions please contact Julie Edgecombe, Public Health Strategist, London Borough of Islington.  Email at: Julie.Edgecombe@islington.gov.uk