Two early childhood services in Stawell received a Smiles 4 Miles award this week.
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The awards were presented in recognition of their work to improve the oral health of some of Stawell’s youngest community members. Cooinda and Marrang Kindergartens have been actively involved with the Smiles 4 Miles program by addressing the key messages of oral health through curriculum activities and family engagement.
Smiles 4 Miles is an oral health promotion program for kindergarten-aged children developed by Dental Health Services Victoria and implemented in partnership with Grampians Pyrenees Primary Care Partnership throughout the Northern Grampians, Ararat and Pyrenees regions.
The program is based on the World Health Organisation's Health Promoting Schools Framework and is delivered predominantly in kindergartens.
Services achieve the Smiles 4 Miles award by implementing healthy eating and oral health policies, engaging with families about the importance of oral health, and educating children through a variety of fun learning experiences based on the Smiles 4 Miles key messages – Drink well, Eat well and Clean well.
Michelle Warren, Kinder Teacher at Marrang Kindergarten said the program is a great way to help children have healthy teeth and gums for life.
“Good habits are formed early,” Ms Warren said.
“Children take lessons they learn at a young age with them, right up to adulthood. By promoting good oral health behaviours early in life, we can decrease the likelihood of poor oral health later in life.”
Cooinda and Marrang Kindergartens in Stawell have fulfilled the award criteria for the Smiles 4 Miles program and are continuing the second of this two-year award program into 2015.
Children take lessons they learn at a young age with them, right up to adulthood. By promoting good oral health behaviours early in life, we can decrease the likelihood of poor oral health later in life.
- Michelle Warren
Cooinda and Marrang urge everyone to remember the three steps to healthy teeth and gums.
1. Drink well- Drink tap water or plain milk and avoid sugary drinks like cordials, juices and soft drinks
2. Eat well- Eat a variety of nutritious foods each day and limit sugary foods, particularly between meals
3. Clean well- Brush teeth twice daily, adults should help children until at least the age of seven.