BSPD welcomes launch of Mini Mouth Care Matters training for health visiting teams
Brings together an e-learning programme, practical mouth check guide and an age-staged oral health advice checklist
The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) has welcomed the launch of new Mini Mouth Care Matters (Mini MCM) training and resources for health visiting teams.
Developed in partnership with the Institute of Health Visiting, the package equips health visitors and wider health visiting teams to promote good oral health from the antenatal period through to early childhood. It brings together an e-learning programme, a practical ‘lift the lip’ mouth check guide and an age-staged oral health advice checklist covering toothbrushing, diet, fluoride and dental attendance.
BSPD says the launch marks an important step in embedding oral health into routine early years contacts and making every contact count. By helping health visiting teams identify early signs of dental problems, sharing consistent prevention advice and signposting families to dental support where needed, Mini MCM aims to help reduce inequalities in children’s oral health and support healthier starts in life.
The launch also supports the BSPD’s President’s Charter 2025–2026, which calls for good oral health for every child in the UK and identifies the integration of oral health into wider healthcare settings, including initiatives such as Mini MCM, as an immediate priority.
Dr Urshla (Oosh) Devalia OBE, President of BSPD and National Lead for Mini Mouth Care Matters, said: “Health visitors are trusted professionals who have vital contact with families during pregnancy and the earliest years of a child’s life. This new Mini Mouth Care Matters training gives health visiting teams practical, evidence-based tools to weave oral health into everyday conversations and checks.
“Tooth decay remains one of the most common, yet largely preventable, diseases affecting children. Supporting families early before problems become established is essential. We are delighted that these resources are now available nationally to help health visiting teams lift the lip, spot concerns early and share simple messages that can make a lifelong difference.”
The health visiting resources form part of the wider Mini MCM programme, which supports non-dental health professionals to recognise oral health needs, encourage routine mouth care and put oral health back into holistic child health care.
The package includes:
- Mini Mouth Care Matters e-learning to support health visiting teams in promoting oral health in the early years
- a Lift the Lip mouth check guide, using a simple traffic-light approach to help interpret findings and identify next steps
- an oral health advice checklist for health visiting teams, covering evidence-based advice from pregnancy through to two years and beyond
BSPD encourages health visiting teams, commissioners, oral health improvement leads and early years partners to share the training widely and embed the resources into local pathways, supervision, team learning and family-facing contacts.