July 2019

Dental Clinics in the Swan Hill Area:

Public Swan Hill (Public & Private): 5033 9336 Ouyen: 5092 1121 Boort: 5451 5230 Private Swan Hill: 5032 1408, 5033 1115 Kerang: 5452 1867

TIP Contact your local clinic

to see if your child is eligible for the Child

Dental Benefits Schedule

Swan Hill District Health Health Promotion and

Dietetics Dept 60 McCrae St

Swan Hill, 3585 Phone: 5033 9337

Gayle Taylor Dept Head

Kristi Germaine Health Promotion Officer

Email: kgermaine@shdh.org.au

Website: http://

eatmovesmile.shdh.org.au Facebook:

www.facebook.com/eatmovesmileshdh

Smiles 4 Miles News

Hi everyone, Welcome to the third edition of Early Childhood News for 2019. The focus this term is on Clean well. Establishing good oral health habits from an early age is vital to ensure these habits are carried through life. Inside this edition find some tips and information about tooth brushing. We’re really excited to be running the oral health screenings again this year during term 3(see below) as part of the Smiles 4 Miles program. We’re also celebrating World Breastfeeding Week and Dental Health Week this term so keep an eye on our social media (see left) for celebrations to get involved with. - Health Promotion

Does your child attend an Early Childhood Service in the Swan Hill Area? If so, they will have a special visitor this term!

As a part of the Smiles 4 Miles Program, all children attending Early Childhood Services involved in Smiles 4 Miles will be given the opportunity to participate in an oral health screening at their Early Childhood Service and receive their own toothbrush and tube of children’s toothpaste this term! The Dental Therapist from Swan Hill District Health Dental Services will be visiting services and conducting a basic examination of children’s teeth to identify any major issues and refer where needed to the clinic for further examination or treatment. This is a fantastic opportunity and we encourage families to take advantage.

During Term 2 Kristi from Health Promotion visited all services to talk to children about ‘Eating A Rainbow’ of fruits and vegetables. Children (and teachers) also had the opportunity to taste a rainbow. Families can help reinforce this message by offering children a variety of different coloured fruits and vegetables each day, aim to fill lunchboxes with lots of colour! Well done to all the children that tried foods for the first time (especially purple cabbage!)or ones they usually don’t like - it’s amazing what putting a different/fun spin on things can do for fussy eaters!

An oral health promotion initiative of DHSV, Smiles 4 Miles works in partnership with Swan Hill District Health to improve the oral health of young children, their families, educators and the broader community.

What age should I start brushing my child’s teeth?

You should start cleaning your child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth appears in the mouth - usually around 6-9 months of age.

Cleaning can be done by wiping each tooth front and back using a damp piece of gauze or a damp face washer wrapped around a finger.

All children’s teeth should be cleaned at least twice each day. At approximately 12 months of age (or sooner if the child will allow it), a

toothbrush designed for children (small head and soft bristles) can be introduced.

Start using a pea-sized amount of low fluoride toothpaste when your child is 18 months old.

How to brush your child’s teeth

1. Smear a pea-sized amount of low-fluoride toothpaste onto a soft children's

toothbrush. 2. Sit the child in your lap, facing away from you, or stand behind taller

children. Tilt the child's head back against your body so you can see all the surfaces of the teeth.

3. Angle the bristles of the toothbrush towards the gum. Move the brush in gentle circles to clean the outer sides of the teeth and gums.

4. Brush in gentle circles on the inside of the teeth and gums. 5. Brush back and forward on the chewing surface of the teeth. 6. After brushing all the surfaces, encourage your child to spit out the

toothpaste 7. Do not allow them to swallow and do not rinse (see below).

Leaving some toothpaste on your teeth is a really great way to give your teeth some extra ongoing protection.

The small amount of fluoridated toothpaste left in their mouth after spitting continues to protect against tooth

decay. It may take a little getting used to but soon it will be your new normal and your teeth will thank you for it!

Children aged 18months to 6 years should use a low fluoride toothpaste.

Dental Health Services Victoria

Dental Health Services Victoria

Dental Health Services Victoria

Breastfeeding and Oral Health

Breast feeding, if possible, is better for baby’s health and wellbeing - and this

includes oral health

Continue breastfeeding while introducing appropriate solid foods until 12 months of age and beyond, for as long as the mother and child desire

Once your baby has finished feeding remove the baby from the breast or bottle

A 2015 study found babies exclusively breastfed for six months were 72% less likely to have crooked teeth1

Breastfeeding for up to 12 months is protective for early childhood caries

Continue breastfeeding while helping your child learn to drink from a cup at 6 months

For support and advice about breastfeeding and oral health speak with your maternal and child health nurse 1. (Peres KG, Cascaes AM et al 2015)

Reminder for the term:

Dental health week - How’s your oral health tracking? The 5-11th August marks Dental Health Week with the theme this year “How’s your oral health tracking?”. Many Australians are not fully heeding key oral health messages:

65% of Australians haven’t seen a dentist in the last

two years.

50% of Australians are brushing their teeth only once

a day.

To maintain oral health we need to brush twice a day with

fluoride toothpaste, eat a healthy diet low in sugar, choose

fluoridated tap water as our drink and visit the dentist

regularly. If you or your family are skipping these steps

Dental Health Week is the time to make some changes!

Thought for the term: CLEAN WELL

☆ Good oral health

habits from an early age help to prevent problems as an adult.

☆ Everybody should

brush their teeth twice a day; after breakfast and before bed.

☆ Help your child to brush their teeth until they

are seven; most children are not able to use a toothbrush properly before they are seven.

☆ Even when children are able to brush

themselves, they may need an adult to check they have brushed thoroughly.

Children should have an oral health check up by

two years of age.

World Breastfeeding Week 1-7 August 2019

The theme for this year’s World Breastfeeding Week is “Empower parents, enable breastfeeding” #WBW2019 will protect, promote and support breastfeeding through: Parental social protection policies and legislation Parent-friendly workplaces in both formal and informal sectors Parent-friendly values and gender –equitable social norms We are hosting a Pregnancy & Early Years Expo in early September to enable local families to come together share experiences, learn about our services and let us know what we could do better! We will be learning from families that have used our midwifery and breastfeeding services as they tell their stories throughout the month of August, and we will be promoting our Breastfeeding Support Service, now including a qualified Lactation Consultant! Keep an eye on our social media for details.

For support with breastfeeding contact: -SHDH Breastfeeding Support Service located at Health Promotion 5033 9337 -SHDH Midwifery (up to 6 weeks) 5033 9269 -Australian Breastfeeding Association 1800 686 268 -Mallee District Aboriginal Service 5032 8600 -Maternal and Child Health 5032 0300 / 13 22 29

Follow us: eat.move.smile. Subscribe to our blog at http://eatmovesmile.shdh.org.au

The Infant Program is FREE to attend for you and your child.

It is designed to help you get healthy eating and active play with your baby right from the start. It is not always easy to know the best way, whether this is your first child or whether

you’re an experienced parent.

The Infant Program is a 4 session lifestyle program delivered to parents of young infants over the first year of life. Parents learn about key messages and from each other and have a

health professional available to provide guidance.

The program is held at Health Promotion, 60 McCrae St. Swan Hill, 10:30am -12:00noon.

Group sessions are held as follows: Session 1: Infant age 3 months Time: 1st Tuesday of the month Session 2: Infant age 6 months Time: 2nd Tuesday of the month Session 3: Infant age 9 months Time: 3rd Tuesday of the month Session 4: Infant age 12 months Time: 4th Tuesday of the month Bookings are necessary, however you can register once for all sessions. Sessions are limited to 10 people.

Child Dental Benefits Schedule Contact: Swan Hill District Health Dental Services Address: 30 High St, Swan Hill Phone: 03 5033 9336

Navigating Pregnancy

The Navigating Pregnancy session will help you navigate the ups and downs of pregnancy. It covers what to eat and how to exercise during your pregnancy. A dietitian and physiotherapist will cover topics including eating the right foods for baby’s development, morning sickness as well as looking after your pelvic floor and pain management. The session can also answer questions about accessing services during your pregnancy at Swan Hill District Health.

When: lunchtime the first Thursday of the month (12.15pm to 1.00pm)

Where: Health Promotion (60 McCrae St, Swan Hill)

Cost: free