Childsmile Programme hits healthy milestone

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Childsmile Team Photograph

Childsmile is 20 years old and this month, in what is also National Smile Month, we are delighted to launch community activities and events taking place over summer. 

We are kicking off with our “What’s made you smile?” activity, and we invite you to be part of the celebration. We want to hear your stories and memories of Childsmile from the past 20 years. Childsmile is the national oral health improvement programme designed to improve the dental health of children and reduce inequalities in access to dental care.

20 years ago, half of children starting school showed signs of tooth decay. Over the years since the programme evolved, the number of children with no decay has improved to reach over 80% of P1 children in Orkney showing no sign of tooth decay.

Karyn Tait, Oral Health Team Lead at NHS Orkney said: “This exciting milestone is an opportunity to reflect and be proud of what has been achieved over the past 20 years, and to say thank you to staff, partner organisations, parents and carers. We hope you’ll get involved with our events and activities over the summer and let us know “What’s made you smile?” about being part of Childsmile.”

If you went to nursery in the county anytime from the early 2000s, it’s likely that you are ‘a Childsmile child’. What do you remember about Childsmile and brushing your teeth at school?

  • Do you remember your toothbrush and its picture? 
  • Do you remember learning to brush your teeth with the teddies with teeth? 
  • Would you only use the Childsmile toothpaste for years?
  • Did you love the banana paint (fluoride varnish), or not?

As a parent, carer or grandparent, did or does your child tell you all about brushing teeth in circles, or all about their tooth fairy at nursery or school? Or were you one of the many staff working with us in schools and nurseries, or in the dental clinic over the years?

Please email your memories along with any photographs to ork.oralhealth@nhs.scot. Please note that by sharing your stories and pictures, you give your permission for us to use in local publicity and on our NHS Orkney social media channels.

Steven Johnston, Director of Dentistry at NHS Orkney said: “This is a significant milestone for Orkney, reflecting years of leading improvement in children’s oral health. We are proud that many who benefited from the programme now enjoy decay-free teeth, giving them the best start in life.

While we celebrate this progress, we remain focused on ongoing challenges for families throughout Orkney particularly following the pandemic and amid the cost-of-living crisis. With pressures on dental services, prevention is more important than ever, every £1 invested in Childsmile saves over £3. As we mark its 20th anniversary, we look forward to showcasing its impact and celebrating its success with you, our community.”

With the support of the NHS Orkney Endowment Fund, the local Childsmile Team will be taking part in several local events over the summer to mark this anniversary and everyone is welcome to attend. Please look out for more details soon:

  • Childsmile Summer Picnic at The Finstown Community Gardens – Thursday 9 July
  • Rousay Land and Sea Family Day – Sunday 5July
  • Stromness Shopping Week – Thursday 23 July
  • Sanday Show – Friday 31 July
  • Shapinsay Show – Tuesday 4 August

If you have any queries about this project or would like to get involved, please contact the Childsmile Team at The Balfour on 01856 888258.