Childsmile Week – kids’ week at the dentist!

Childsmile is a national programme designed to improve the oral health of children in Scotland and reduce inequalities both in dental health and access to dental services. The programme is aimed at children from birth, to make sure that parents get the help they need at home as well as at the dentist.

First, your health visitor or public health nurse will introduce you to Childsmile and give you oral health advice and provide you with a free dental pack. Every child is provided with a Dental Pack containing a toothbrush, tube of 1000ppm fluoride toothpaste and an information leaflet on at least six occasions by the age of five. Children also receive a free-flow feeder cup by one year of age.

In addition, every three and four year old child attending nursery (whether it is a local authority, voluntary or private nursery) is offered free, daily, supervised toothbrushing (here in the Western Isles, the toothbrushing component is offered to all primary schools and to all ages from Primary 1 to 7).

A great deal of emphasis is placed on children registering to attend primary care dental services.

Through Childsmile, parents are encouraged to register with primary dental care services from birth, and to attend regularly from a young age, for oral health advice. Childsmile Week has specifically been arranged to encourage registration.

An appointment can be made by contacting Western Isles Dental Centre on 01851 707500.

Pictured are Uist Children getting their Childsmile appointments with Morag Mackinnon, Childsmile Coordinator.