Tooth fairies get children smiling

Hundreds of children across the borough of Rochdale have been visited by tooth fairies as part of National Smile Month.

Children’s centres, nurseries and childminder groups were visited by the fairies who talked to parents, carers and childminders about keeping children’s mouths healthy.

The tooth fairies, dental nurses from across the borough’s services, also read stories and helped children to clean toys’ teeth to teach them about the importance of brushing their teeth.  

Littleborough Children’s Centre, childminder groups who meet at Heywood Baptist Church and Jollytots Play Centre were also joined by Rochelle, mum to the borough’s Healthy Heroes family.

 

 

Recent figures show that 47% of five year olds in Rochdale show some degree of tooth decay so the borough is working hard to deliver early interventions.

Councillor Sara Rowbotham, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Rochdale Council, said: “Improving the health of Rochdale’s children is a key priority for us and oral hygiene is a vital part of this.

“The work taking place across the borough helps to educate parents and establish good habits in young children and we hope the dental team’s brilliant work will help our children grow into healthy adults.”

 

 

By day the tooth fairies are dental nurses from Pennine Care NHS Trust, Living Well healthy lifestyles team, the fluoride varnish programme and the Greater Manchester toothbrushing in schools programme.

The team deliver a number of oral hygiene schemes across the borough to promote good oral hygiene in babies and children.

Expectant mums are given dental packs and are told what they should do to help their baby have a healthy mouth. Dental packs including toothpaste and a toothbrush are given out by health visitors and at nurseries and tooth brushing is delivered in schools for 3 to 5 year olds.

Parents are encouraged to take their children to the dentist regularly. Babies should be taken to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear and then at least once a year throughout childhood.

If you would like to receive a visit from Rochelle or would like to know more about oral hygiene programmes email healthy.heroes@rochdale.gov.uk