Healthy Teeth, Happy Smiles

Healthy Teeth, Happy Smiles aims to improve the oral health of children and adults in Leicester, and reduce tooth decay and associated health issues.

National Smile Month (15 May - 15 June)

National Smile Month is a charity campaign set up by the Oral Health Foundation that aims to promote good oral health and promoting the value of a healthy smile.  

In Leicester, we also believe that everyone deserves a healthy smile, as a person’s oral health is a crucial part of their overall wellbeing. Once again, our Healthy Teeth & Happy Smiles team will be working in community centres and food banks across Leicester to help families to understand the importance of good oral hygiene and brushing their teeth regularly.

The key four messages of National Smile Month are:

1. Brust teeth for two minutes, last thing at night and one other time during the day, with a fluoride toothpaste
2. Clean between your teeth every day
3. Cut down how much and how often you have sugary foods and drinks
4. Visit the dentist regularly

Our activity pack is available below for young children with activities and oral health advice:

You can also find more information including weekly tips on how to brush for better health on the Live Well Leicester social media Twitter and Facebook pages and the Oral Health Foundation website.

What you need to know about oral health

There are some very simple messages that you can use to help promote good oral health in your setting or at home:

• Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, once before bed and one other time during the day.
• Eat less sugary food and drink - find out more at dentalhealth.org
• Visit your dentist regularly. Book a visit to the dentist once your child gets their first tooth and regularly.

Healthy Teeth, Happy Smiles aims to provide:

• Free toothbrushes and toothpaste for children in oral health packs. All children in the city will receive five oral health care packs by the time they are five, which contain a toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste and oral health information.
• Free baby bottle swaps in all of our children, young people and families centres.
• Supervised toothbrushing. Many of our early year’s settings (aged 0-5) take part in our free supervised toothbrushing programme where your children will learn how to brush their teeth properly every day.

Top tips to help improve your child’s oral health

There are a number of simple steps you can take:

• Take your child to see the dentist before they are one and go regularly.
• Brush your child's teeth as soon as the first tooth appears.
• Brush at least twice a day.
• Don't rinse after brushing just spit the toothpaste out.
• Use a fluoride toothpaste.
• Ask your dentist about fluoride varnish.
• Limit sugary drinks and snacks to mealtimes only.

You can also view and download our free oral health resources.

You can also find information on establishing a good bed time routine at NHS.UK.

To find out how to access these services, contact our oral health team:

• Oral health team:
  healthyteethhappysmiles@leicester.gov.uk

Accredited Healthy Teeth, Happy Smiles dental practices

The following dental practices in Leicester are accredited family-friendly and have demonstrated their commitment to improving children’s oral health in the city.