The British Fluoridation Society (BFS) is the one organisation in the UK dedicated to supporting new and existing water fluoridation schemes. The late Labour MP Dick Crossman instigated the formation of the BFS in 1969. He was Secretary of State for Health and Social Services and could see that there was a need for an independent organisation to communicate objectively the benefits of water fluoridation.
BFS became the scientific and academic home of this important preventative measure which appeals to social justice campaigners wanting to create a fairer world. It is entirely independent. From its inception the Society has been a multi-disciplinary organisation and has enjoyed the support of the public, health-care professionals and politicians from all political parties. Membership is open to individuals and organisations that support the Society’s aims.

Truthful advocacy for water fluoridation. The BFS invites students at UK dental schools and oral health training programmes to enter a new video competition aimed at raising awareness of community water fluoridation (CWF). The challenge is to create short, social-media-friendly videos that promote the benefits of water fluoridation and its role in reducing oral health inequalities.

Entries open 1st September 2026. The deadline for entries is 31st December 2026.

Prizes:

• Winner: £500 cash prize
• Two runners-up: £250 each

Winning entries will be shared on BFS social channels and credited appropriately. The decision of the BFS judges is final.

Who can enter:

• Open to students enrolled in BDS, dental hygiene and therapy, or other oral health programmes at UK dental schools.
• Entries can be individual or group-based (maximum 4 students per group).
• Entrants must have the approval of a designated academic/staff contact at their institution.

Video guidelines:

• Length: 30–90 seconds.
• Format: landscape or portrait (MP4 preferred; TikTok-ready).
• Language: English.
• Style: creative, evidence-based and accessible — humour and flair encouraged!
• Sources: videos must use scientifically valid sources. Refer to the BFS Evidence Base or official guidance (e.g. UKHSA, WHO, NHS).

Submission requirements:

• A completed entry form (video title, names, course, school, staff contact and consent declarations).
• A video upload link or file.
• A credits sheet stating all participants and any third-party content used, with proof of public domain or Creative Commons licensing, or a declaration of original work.

Content rules:

• Entries must be the original work of the student(s).
• Videos must not contain false or misleading claims.
• Any facts cited must be backed by robust scientific consensus.
• Respect copyright and intellectual property laws — avoid unlicensed media.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

• The use of AI tools (e.g. for scripting, voice generation, avatars or visual elements) is permitted but should be used sparingly.
• BFS strongly encourages entries to feature primarily human presenters and original student-created content.
• Any use of AI must be clearly declared in the credits, specifying how it was used.
• Entries that rely heavily on AI-generated content in place of human performance may be marked down in the judging process.

Judging: A panel of BFS experts will assess entries on scientific accuracy (25%), creativity and impact (25%), clarity of message (25%) and relevance to the theme (25%).

Timeline:

• Launch: 1st September 2026
• Deadline for entries: 31st december 2026
• Judging event(s): January 2027
• Winners announced: February 2027

Questions: For queries or to express interest, contact info@bfsweb.org.