Early Years Oral Health & Hygiene

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Early Years Oral Health

During Early Years’ Foundation Stage, a child’s first experiences with oral health can impact on the rest of their life. That’s why it’s so important to teach them about their mouth and introduce them to good habits as soon as possible. It is equally vital to continue to ‘normalise’ dental visits and put them at ease with the role of a dentist as a person they can trust.

Our Early Years’ Foundation Stage framework sets out the requirements for the learning, development and welfare of children from birth to the end of the academic year in which their fifth birthday occurs. The aim is to help young children achieve the five ‘Every Child Matters’ outcomes.

These include:

  • Staying safe.
  • Being healthy.
  • Enjoying and achieving.
  • Making a positive contribution.
  • Achieving economic wellbeing.

Useful resources

Public Health England: health matters child dental health, guidance to help you prevent tooth decay in children under 5, including links to e-learning.

Children’s Oral Health: healthcare e-learning, aimed at parents, early years healthcare workers, teachers, nurses, GPs and the public.

Oral Health Foundation: early years foundation stage, how children can keep their mouth healthy and the best way to brush your teeth.

Improving oral health in early years: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Pathways.

PACEY’s oral health advice: includes factsheet for parents.

PACEY’s nutrition spotlight, encouraging healthy eating habits.

Delivering oral health from Public Health England, includes a quick guide to healthy mouths in children.

Change4life children’s centre toolkit from Public Health England, for promoting healthy eating and dental health.

Dr Ranj and Supertooth

Dr Ranj and Supertooth star in two short videos that you can share all about caring for children’s teeth.

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