Pre-schools across the Gannawarra Shire, Victoria, are participating in the Smiles 4 Miles program to promote oral health.
Smiles 4 Miles is an oral health promotion program for pre-school-aged children developed by Dental Health Services Victoria.
The program is implemented locally by Northern District Community Health in partnership with Gannawarra Shire Council.
Mayor Lorraine Learmonth said all four local pre-schools have been awarded for their commitment to improving the oral health of young children and their families using ongoing simple messages around the three key messages of clean well, eat well and drink well.
Northern District Community Health recently visited each pre-school to introduce a new dragon friend named Chomper.
Northern District Community Health, Health Promotion Officer, Emily Wood, said, “The visit by Chomper was designed to teach pre-school children how to look after their teeth.
“Chomper is a friendly dragon with very big teeth. We talked to the pre-schoolers about how to look after their teeth using Chomper to demonstrate how to brush well, eat well and drink well.
“Chomper also encouraged the children to regularly visit a dentist to have their teeth checked with each child taking home a Smiles 4 Miles pack including tooth paste, tooth brush and local dental health
service information.”
Northern District Community Health Chief Executive Officer, Mandy Hutchinson said, “Poor oral health causes significant health issues.
“We know that good habits are formed early in life and by encouraging good oral health behaviours in our young children and families we can decrease the likelihood of poor oral health and associated issues later in life.”
