A new partnership between Berrimba Childcare Centre and Echuca Regional Health (ERH) is helping local children learn the importance of dental care in a fun and engaging way.
On Tuesday, August 5, children from the childcare centre visited the ERH dental clinic to take part in an educational event for Dental Health Week. The visit featured interactive activities, including a tooth-brushing demonstration using “Chomp” the dinosaur, a chance to sit in a real dentist’s chair, and an experiment showing the impact of acidic drinks on eggshells.
ERH oral health educator Marcia Spiers said this was the first time the clinic had hosted Berrimba and that the goal was to make the dentist’s office feel less intimidating for children.
“It’s about creating a fun, interactive experience that removes fear and anxiety,” she said. “We want kids to feel comfortable using our services and to know that they’re free and easy to access.”
Spiers also hopes the visit will encourage parents to continue using the hospital’s dental services for their children.
Berrimba is one of 30 early learning centres in the region supported by the Smiles 4 Miles program, which promotes good oral hygiene in young children.
Berrimba teacher Emma Taylor said the centre has been involved in the program for several years.
“We want children to have healthy baby teeth so they grow up with healthy adult teeth,” she said. “We work with children from birth to age five and aim to promote happy, healthy smiles.”
The centre supports daily tooth brushing and is currently participating in a dry brushing initiative, which avoids using water to help retain fluoride on the teeth.
Meanwhile, new data from an Australian Dental Association (ADA) survey reveals that around 1.5 million children nationwide are missing out on free dental care through the federal Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). The survey suggests many families are unaware of their eligibility.
ADA President Dr. Chris Sanzaro has urged the federal government to better promote the scheme and simplify its guidelines to ensure more children can benefit.
