Tauranga children get involved in Oral Health Day competition

Papamoa's Te Kohanga Reo o Te Akau with BOPDHB Oral Health Promoter Norma Van Arendonk (seated back middle) and Te Kupenga Hauora's Paretapu Clarke (seated back right). PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Tauranga's kohanga reo are challenging people to get involved in the World Oral Health Day competition.

In a press release, Papamoa's Te Kohanga Reo o Te Akau have taken on the challenge for National Oral Health Day tomorrow, by helping teach parents and children how to brush and look after teeth.

Te Kohanga Reo o Te Akau kaimahi (head teacher) Waiwhetu Walker said the kohanga wanted to get people involved in the challenge for the sake of their children.

"We have taken the approach of teaching the parents through the children, so what you find is that the children will be taking the lessons learned here back into the family home. The competition helped reinforce those messages."

Twenty-six Bay of Plenty early childhood centres had been given an activities book by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board oral health promotion team to record their challenges.

BOPDHB oral health promoter Norma Van Arendonk encouraged others to get involved in the challenge.

"It's an opportunity for everybody to raise awareness about the benefits of healthy eating and drinking, as well as good dental hygiene for all of our children."

Dental care is free for newborns to 17 year-olds and anyone wanting further information on dental care should call 0800 Talk Teeth (0800 8255 83384).

Any Kohanga Reo or early childhood centres who wanted to know more should contact Norma Van Arendonk on 07 577 3334.