Sir, the recent article by J. Pearn, Baden-Powell on teeth: a centenary perspective of a pioneer of preventive dental health (BDJ 2008; 204: 33–36) shows that preventive health advice has a long history and the target group presented a challenge then and now.

In the BDA museum there is a film of the boy scouts, made in 1912 by George Cunningham, showing them in the scout camp in Cambridge whittling at sticks for their camp toothbrushes.

George Cunningham (1852-1919) was also a pioneer in improving oral conditions, especially of children. He used the French film makers the Pathé brothers to make the film setting out preventive health messages using the boy scouts and nursing mothers among others to make dental health education fun. The film was shown at the FDI World Dental Conference in Stockholm in 1912.

This film can be viewed in the BDA museum. As a volunteer at the museum with a special interest in George Cunningham I recommend a visit.