Oral health improvement team and Peppa Pig helping Barnsley one smile at a time
Parents and children in Barnsley are invited to join the celebrations for the World Smile Day 2012 on Friday 5th October, an annual event aimed at improving public awareness of oral health and hygiene through healthy eating, proper brushing, and visiting the dentist regularly.
Members of the oral health improvement team, which works with community services provided by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, will be joined by the popular children’s television character Peppa Pig to help promote messages about good dental hygiene and how to get a winning smile.
The team and Peppa will be working as World Smile Ambassadors for the day handing out lots of free gifts, all designed to promote the importance of keeping teeth and gums healthy.
Dental health in Barnsley continues to cause concern with 58% of five year olds having experienced dental decay compared with the national average of 40%. Figures also show that in areas of deprivation five year olds are four times more likely to suffer decay than other areas.
Local people can meet the team and Peppa Pig at the following locations:
•Milefield Children’s Centre, Grimethorpe, S72 7HB
9.15am – 9.45am
•Secret Garden Children’s Centre, Athersley North, S71 3NB
10.15am – 10.45am
•Dearne Community Children’s Centre, Bolton on Dearne, S63 8ES
11.15am – 11.45am
•Kings Oak Children’s Centre, Wombwell, S73 8TX
12.30pm – 1pm
Jillian O’Brien, oral health improvement worker said, “Raising awareness is particularly important in this region as there is a low regular dental service attendance in many areas. Our team works to improve oral health in this region and make people aware of the importance of keeping their teeth clean by brushing with fluoride toothpaste and having regular dentist appointments. We hope to reinforce the message to children and their families this World Smile Day and help tackle the poor dental hygiene while promoting the day’s message of ‘improving this world, one smile at a time’.”
To finds out more about the oral health action team or the work of the oral health improvement workers contact Jillian O’Brien on 01226 433101.
