Oral Public Health Specialist
North Somerset Council
Healthy and Sustainable Communities Directorate
North Somerset Council
Town Hall
Walliscote Grove Road
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1UJ
Brush Up is a North Somerset programme that helps families and adults look after their teeth and gums. We do this by training frontline professionals to become Oral Health Champions and by giving out free toothbrush packs with simple, helpful advice.
Brush Up is…
Training Oral Health Champions
We offer free, relevant training sessions to staff working in key settings in our communities.
The training covers:
- Why oral health matters
- How tooth decay happens and how to prevent it
- Tips on toothbrushing and reducing sugar
- How to give brief, sensitive oral health advice
- How to safely hand out toothbrush packs
Champions use everyday conversations to help people build healthier habits, bringing oral health promotion into our communities; no clinical background needed.
Distributing Toothbrush Packs
Oral Health Champions and their teams can offer free toothbrush packs to people who would benefit from them. Packs are available for all ages.
They are always given with simple guidance, so people know how to get the best out of them.
Supporting Communities
Brush Up is designed to reach people who may find it harder to access dental care or oral health information, including:
- Low‑income families
- Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
- People experiencing homelessness or supported housing
- Neurodivergent people or those with sensory needs
- Looked‑after children and care leavers
- Older adults needing support
However, everyone can receive advice, and champions use their judgement to decide who might benefit from a pack.
Getting Everywhere!
Brush Up is just starting, but soon, you might find Oral Health Champions working in:
- Family Hubs
- Libraries
- Housing and homelessness services
- Youth justice and young carers services
- Food banks and community organisations
These services already support local residents every day, making oral health guidance part of a natural conversation.
More information
What People Can Expect
If you speak to an Oral Health Champion, you may receive:
- Quick, friendly advice about looking after your mouth
- A toothbrush pack (if helpful for you or your family)
- Information on brushing, sugar, and dental check‑ups
- A chance to share feedback about whether the advice helped
How We Know It’s Working
Brush Up uses simple tools to understand its impact:
- Champions record how many packs they give out
- Staff share what conversations they’ve had
- Some recipients complete short surveys about whether the advice helped, and how their mouth feels
This helps us improve the programme and make sure it reaches the people who need it most.
Want Your Service to Get Involved?
We welcome enquiries from any service that supports local residents, whether you work with families, adults, young people, or community groups.
Brush Up offers:
- Free, relevant training
- All toothbrush packs and resources supplied
- Support from the Oral Health Public Health team
Get in touch with the Oral Health team at North Somerset Council to join the programme.
Accessible Information
Brush Up materials can be adapted for different languages or cultural needs where required.