Thanks to funding from NHS England, they include providing free toothbrushes and toothpaste through schools, training for Early Years professionals and supervised brushing schemes.
Dental packs are being distributed via health visitors for toddlers and school nurses for reception age pupils, as well as across Early Years settings for all 3 to 4 year olds.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “National Smile Month provides an opportunity to raise the awareness of good oral health.
“Encouraging good oral health in our children is vital as tooth decay starts early in life – and those that have high levels of disease in their first teeth have an increased risk of disease in their permanent teeth.
“Fortunately, most decay and oral diseases can be prevented or managed by healthy behaviours such as enjoying a healthy balanced diet and cleaning teeth and gums effectively, and so making sure children have access to effective and age appropriate dental products is essential.”
Following the receipt of dental packs for children at St Mary’s Catholic Primary Academy, Vice Principal Kerry Cox said: “All the children were excited to receive their dental packs and to take them home to use; these initiatives are great in helping our children to understand the importance of keeping their bodies healthy.”
National Smile Month, organised by the Oral Health Foundation, is the UK's biggest oral health campaign. For more information, please visit National Smile Month.
