Abstract
Original article online at
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41415-026-0115-8
The British Fluoridation Society (BFS) is inviting dental and oral health students across the UK to enter a new video competition highlighting the benefits of community water fluoridation.
The BFS Student Video Challenge, which opens on 1 September 2026, aims to encourage students to communicate the evidence supporting community water fluoridation and its role in improving oral health and reducing inequalities.
Students studying dentistry, dental hygiene and therapy, dental nursing and other recognised oral health programmes at UK dental schools and training institutions are eligible to enter. Entries may be submitted individually or in teams of up to four students, with the support of a designated academic or staff contact.
Participants are asked to produce a 30–90 second video suitable for social media platforms. Entries should be engaging, accessible and based on robust scientific evidence, using recognised sources such as the BFS, The UK Fluoridation Evidence Base and Information Centre, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), NHS and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The winning entry will receive £500, with two runners-up prizes of £250. Winning videos will be shared through the Society’s digital channels.
Barry Cockcroft, Chair of the British Fluoridation Society, said: ‘Dental professionals are increasingly expected to communicate evidence clearly, both with patients and with the wider public. This competition gives students an opportunity to develop those skills while promoting one of the most effective population-level measures for preventing dental decay.’
Artificial intelligence (AI) may be used to support elements of production, including scripting or visual effects, but the Society says entries should primarily feature original student-created content and human presenters. Any use of AI must be declared.
Entries will be assessed by a panel of BFS judges against four criteria: scientific accuracy, creativity and impact, clarity of message, and relevance to the theme, with each carrying equal weighting.
The competition closes on 31 December 2026. Judging will take place in January 2027, with the winners announced in February 2027.
Further information is available from the BFS at info@bfsweb.org. View the official competition launch video at https://bit.ly/4fBjTuu.