Free Dental Story Books for our Tamariki

November 25, 2014

Free Dental Story Books for our Tamariki

Over 60 per cent of Northland pre-schoolers have experienced tooth decay and, in a bid to address this, dental health promoters from across Northland have produced free story books. The books, written in both Maori and English, will be used as a resource for teachers in kohanga reo and early childcare centres.

The interactive and fun story books teach tamariki how to brush their teeth, help them learn what food and drinks are healthy for teeth and encourage a visit to a school dental clinic once a year.

Free copies of ‘Te Pukapuka Oranga Niho’ and ‘Happy Tooth Book’ will be distributed to all Northland kōhanga reo and early childcare centres early next year.

Northland DHB oral health advisor Dr Neil Croucher says: “These story books are absolutely awesome. Kids and teachers are going to have great fun using them together. In doing so, we hope it will kick-start tamariki into a lifetime of healthy dental habits.”

Te Wahaora Roopu (a group of dental health promoters from Ngati Hine Health Trust, Te Hiku Hauora, Whangaroa Health Services Trust, Hokianga Health Enterprise Trust and Northland DHB) was given the responsibility to create and develop the resource.

The story books took two years to develop, involved wide community and stakeholder consultation and are the first of its kind to be published in Northland.

ENDS

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