CYP Now - Early years oral health programmes

Revisions to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework include proposals for childcare settings to do more to promote oral health for children.

Oral health awareness can be built from the early years. Picture: Lagom/Adobe Stock

Nearly a quarter of five-year-olds in England have tooth decay, with children from the most deprived backgrounds being more likely to experience problems with their teeth.

Experts in oral health say including a requirement to promote good practice in brushing and oral hygiene for pre-school children in the EYFS would help tackle the problem.

Here, Celia Freeth, early years quality assurance manager at Havering Education Services, outlines three top tips for early years settings to implement and maintain a positive oral health and wellbeing programme:

By building oral health awareness from early years and supporting parents and practitioners with good quality resources, we can equip children with essential lifelong health and wellbeing skills.

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