Oral Health is essential to general health and quality of life. Poor oral health can affect children’s and young people’s ability to sleep, eat, speak, play, and socialise with other children. Other impacts include pain, infections, poor diet, and impaired nutrition and growth. It also has wider impacts at school and for families if a child misses school.

Schools and childcare settings have an important role in improving the oral health of children and young people.

• The North Yorkshire Council website has information on services and support for dental health, as well as resources and sources of information for families and children: Dentists and oral health | North Yorkshire Council
• Information on oral health for early years, schools, and children’s services professionals is also available here: Health of Children and Young People | CYPSinfo (northyorks.gov.uk)

The below resources are either aimed at professionals or can be used to signpost / provide information to families.

• The Healthier Together websites for North Yorkshire and Humber Oral Health (hnyhealthiertogether.nhs.uk) and West Yorkshire (for those based in Craven) Oral Health :: West Yorkshire Healthier Together (wyhealthiertogether.nhs.uk), offer key information about oral health for babies and children at different ages.
• Information for parents on looking after their families’ teeth can be found on the dental health page on the NHS live well site.
• NHS website providing a summary of how to take care of children’s teeth – from brushing their first tooth to their first trip to the dentist. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/taking-care-of-childrens-teeth/
• HENRY – Growing up with Healthy Teeth & Healthy Eating. Videos to support healthy eating, dental care and tooth brushing in the Early Years. This free 2-part video has been developed with the Leeds School of Dentistry to support parents with easy-to-understand information to protect children’s teeth and avoid decay. https://www.henry.org.uk/videos
• An E-learning module for Children & Families Services, Early Years, and Health but also accessible for parents. Module 1 – Children’s oral health advice for all takes around 30 minutes to complete. https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/childrens-oral-health/
• BSPD has lined up a great team to help make toothbrushing fun for families. Meet Dr Ranj, Hey Duggee, CBeebies and Brush DJ. Choose a video and be inspired to look after your teeth! British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) > Kidsvids
• This booklet A practical guide to children’s teeth(British Society of Paediatric Dentistry) provides advice on how to care for children’s teeth from babies to young adulthood. Available in 9 community languages here: British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD)
• This booklet BSPD Advice for parents of children with autism Jan 17.pdf (British Society of Paediatric Dentistry) provides advice to parents and carers of children with autism, considering factors that that may impact on a child’s oral health needs at home and at the dentist, and ways they can be supported.
• This website provides information for teens on dental health as they grow into adulthood. Teens | MouthHealthy – Oral Health Information from the ADA
• Website with a range of information on oral health. Oral Health Foundation