Shropshire Community Dental Services

14/04/2026

Congratulations to all the care homes that have successfully completed their Care to Smile follow ups, whether it’s the 6–8 week, 3–6 month, or annual quality assurance visit. Your dedication to improving and maintaining residents’ oral health in line with NICE Guidance 48: Oral health for adults in care homes, is truly commendable.

Smiles all round to the following Care Homes:
Staffordshire:
💫 The Manor House Nursing Home
💫 Ernvale House Care Centre
💫 Wheaton Aston Court Nursing & Residential
💫 Meadowyrthe Care Home
💫 Rosevilla Residential Home

Shropshire:
💫 Cliffdale Residential Care Home
💫 Cheswardine Hall Nursing & Residential Care Home
💫 Weston House Care Home
💫 Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home
💫 High Lea House

Telford & Wrekin:
💫 Bennett House Care Home

We are proud to support Care Homes across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin on their journey to providing safe, effective and personalised mouth care. Thank you for your continued commitment to making smiles brighter and healthier! 🦷👏

02/04/2026

Yesterday we posted that last year a survey published by Dentistry magazine showed that 24% of children are missing out on the recommended routine of twice a day toothbrushing.

We asked you to vote for what the most common reason for skipping brushing from the options below.

Here are the results. Did you guess right? -
Why are children skipping brushing?
🦷 52% – Busy mornings & tired evenings
🦷 10% – Don’t like the taste of toothpaste
🦷 7% – Sensitive teeth
🦷 21% – Parents feel dental education isn’t good enough

🪥Do you have any top tips for getting a good morning and night-time brushing routine going? Let us know in the comments.

01/04/2026

🎉 Happy Retirement Kate! 🎉

Yesterday, we said goodbye to Kate, our Consultant in Dental Public Health, as she begins her well-earned retirement.

Thank you, Kate, for your outstanding dedication to oral health improvement and for the knowledge, guidance, and wisdom you’ve shared so generously over the years. Your work has made a lasting difference to oral health outcomes and to everyone who has had the pleasure of working alongside you. You will be truly missed.

We wish you a wonderful next chapter filled with relaxation, new adventures, and plenty of time to enjoy the things you love. You leave behind an incredible legacy. 💙

01/04/2026

🌟 1 in 4 children skip brushing their teeth 🌟

Last year a survey published by Dentistry magazine showed that 24% of children are missing out on the recommended routine of twice a day toothbrushing.
Can you guess what the most common reason was for skipping twice a day brushing?
Is it? -
🦷 Busy mornings & tired evenings
🦷 Don’t like the taste of toothpaste
🦷 Sensitive teeth
🦷Parents feel dental education isn’t good enough

Vote by commenting below or via our story within the next 24hrs. The results will be published tomorrow!


Image courtesy of Dentistry magazine March 2025.

25/03/2026

Your monthly reminder is below!

Healthy Smile Team
Mouth Cancer Foundation
Mouth Cancer Action Month
Oral Health Foundation

25/03/2026

🦷 Free smile packs available! 😁

Thanks to Healthy Telford and the , we are able to offer a number of free smile packs for our residents, available for both adults and children.

Each pack includes:
✔️ A toothbrush
✔️ Toothpaste
✔️ A helpful leaflet with tips for good oral health

If you would like one, please pop into the Parish Office to collect your pack.

⚠️ Please note these are available on a first come, first served basis so don’t miss out!

20/03/2026

16/03/2026

The sugar in medicines can be just as tough on teeth as sugary foods and drinks!
Ask your GP and Pharmacist for sugar-free medicines where possible to help prevent tooth decay.
Visit Start for Life for more tips and advice.

https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/how-to-take-care-of-your-baby-or-toddlers-teeth/

16/03/2026

🌟 It’s Nutrition & Hydration Week! 16th-22nd March 2026 🥛🍞
Staying hydrated is essential for your health. Aim for 6–8 glasses of fluids a day to help prevent dehydration.
💧 Healthy drink choices include:

Water
Lower‑fat milk
Sugar‑free drinks (including tea and coffee)

🍎 Remember: Fruit juices and smoothies do count towards your fluid intake, but they contain sugar — so it’s best to keep them to mealtimes to help protect your teeth.

💡 Struggle with drinking enough fluids?
Set yourself small, achievable goals.

Day 1: Aim for 1 glass
Day 2: Increase to 2 glasses
Slowly increase throughout the week at a pace that works for you.

Keeping water in the fridge can also make it feel more refreshing and easier to drink.

14/03/2026

13/03/2026

Today is World Sleep Day 💤

Did you know that having a good bedtime routine will also help you sleep better? 😴
Check out our tooth-friendly top tips for before bed:
1. No sweet snacks before bed - avoid sweet food and drinks within an hour of bedtime as teeth are more vulnerable to decay at night.
2. Brush with a fluoride toothpaste - supervise brushing (if under the age of 7) before bed using toothpaste with 1450ppm fluoride for maximum protection. It’s essential when saliva levels drop overnight!
3. Spit the toothpaste out after brushing - don’t rinse the toothpaste away.
4. If you are taking a drink to bed - plain water or milk are the best tooth-friendly options.

🦷 Let’s make World Sleep Day tooth-friendly and wake up with a healthy smile!

💤 Check out this toolkit from https://worldsleepday.org/toolkit