Smiles 4 Miles is a Dental Health Services Victoria initiative which aims to improve the oral health of children and their families in Victoria.
The program recognises early childhood services for implementing healthy eating and oral health.
Eileen Taylor Kindergarten children visited Cobram Dental Clinic to learn about the importance of oral health on May 26.
Children from all four kindergartens in Cobram are taking part in the Smiles 4 Miles program, delivered by NCN Health.
Students visit the dental clinic at least once a year to meet the staff.
“We know good oral health is essential to your overall health and wellbeing and we also know good habits are learned early in life,” dental clinic manager Tanya Cleese said.
“At the end of their visit, each student receives a toothbrush and toothpaste supplied by the Smiles 4 Miles program.”
Cobram Dental Clinic's Bec Munro makes the visits fun for the students.
“A lot of them haven't been to the dentist before so they get that exposure,” she said.
“We see too many cases of decay that is too far gone and then most of the time the children's first experience of being in the chair is taking a tooth out and its just too much for them for a first visit.
“Three to four is probably a good age to start visiting.”
She reminded parents that baby teeth are just as important as adult teeth and needed to be brushed twice daily.
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