Children in East Suffolk to receive free dental packs
Children in East Suffolk will receive free dental packs as part of a new initiative to encourage good oral health habits.
East Suffolk Council has joined forces with Community Dental Services (CDS) to provide hundreds of packs, which contain free toothbrushes and toothpaste and a two-minute timer. Children in years one, two and six from across the region will benefit. Youngsters in Waveney are set to receive their packs soon. Children in other towns, including Beccles and Lowestoft, have already been given the free health products.
Oral health improvement manager at CDS, Amanda Turner, said that CDS is the “only oral health education provider commissioned by NHS England, alongside East Suffolk Council in the Waveney area and Norfolk County Council, to deliver our Healthy Smiles accreditation programme to schools in Norfolk and Waveney. CDS supports the local community to try to reduce health inequalities.
The Healthy Smiles packs contain oral health supplies and an evaluation sheet for teachers and students. East Suffolk Council has funded 600 packs, 350 of which have already been distributed to year 6 pupils. In Lowestoft, councillors have pooled resources with help from Morrisons to fund 1,500 packs for children in years one and two. Over 500 packs have also been provided for children in Felixstowe.
Mary Rudd, cabinet member for community health at East Suffolk Council, said that it was “really gratifying” to see resources invested in the project, which will help young people to learn positive habits, which will improve oral health standards.
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