Oral health in early years settings

Oral health is an important part of every child's wellbeing. It impacts on the ability for children to eat and sleep, to socialise with confidence and to concentrate at school. 

If you pledge, this is what you are committing to do

• Have a 'tooth friendly' food and snack policy, limiting sugary snacks and providing water and milk in preference to sugary and acidic drinks.
• Train staff to give consistent oral health messages to children and their families.
• Promote national smile week.
• Commit to engaging and working with external partner and agencies.

Training and resources

You can access the training and resources below to support you in promoting good oral health in their setting, and to support you in achieving the pledge.

Training

Durham County Council Tooth brushing Train the Trainer Scheme

This course aims to enhance knowledge and skills regarding oral health and enables practitioners to cascade to the wider workforce in their setting. The training enables practitioners to demonstrate and embed good tooth brushing, encouraging children to brush their teeth from a young age and supports home brushing.

For more information on how to access a place please Contact early years

Healthy Child Programme online training - Dental Health Promotion (free)

This course aims to enhance knowledge and skills regarding oral health and factors that predispose to poor oral health. Promoting oral health in the infant and young child forms an integral part of this session.

For more information go to e-Learning for Healthcare: Healthy child programme 

Children's oral health advice

This elearning programme provides information and advice about children's oral health. It is aimed at parents, expectant mothers, early years healthcare workers, teachers, nurses, GPs and the public

For more information go to e-Learning for Healthcare: Children's oral health

Resources

• NHS: Looking after your baby's teeth
• Gov.uk: Delivering better oral health
• NHS: Children's teeth
• Gov.uk: Health matters - child dental health
• Oral health foundation: Children's teeth
• NHS: About Better Health
• Public Health England: Science lesson PowerPoint – Keeping our teeth healthy
• National Smile Month 2022
• National Smile Month Activities
• National Smile Month Free Downloads
• NDNA: Oral health in early years