August 2012

Almost all dental disease is preventable. A

combination of good brushing, a healthy diet
and regular visits to the dentist will help
children to grow strong and healthy teeth.

Many people think that baby teeth are less
important than adult teeth, but looking after
childrens first teeth is vital. Cavities and decay
in baby teeth can also spread to permanent
teeth, causing painful and costly damage. In
fact, good oral health begins even before these
first teeth appear.

TOOTH DEVELOPMENT
Children's tooth development begins while the
baby is in the womb. Teething usually occurs
between the ages of six and nine months.
Children usually have their full set of 20 primary
teeth (milk teeth, baby teeth or deciduous
teeth) by the age of three years. At about the
age of six years, the first permanent teeth erupt
(push through the gum).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON TOOTH
DEVELOPMENT, ISSUES AND DENTAL
CARE
Better Health Channel
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcart
icles.nsf/pages/Teeth_development_in_children
?open
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcart
icles.nsf/pages/ct_teeth?open&cat=Teeth_-
_Dental_care_for_children

Womens and Children Health Network:
Parenting and Child Health
http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicD
etails.aspx?p=114&np=122&id=2518
Raising Children Network Website:



http://raisingchildren.net.au/ (information is
listed under health and daily care for babies,
toddlers and preschoolers)

Dental Health Victoria
http://www.dhsv.org.au/dental-advice/teeth-tips-
and-facts/

Australian Dental Association (ADA)
http://www.ada.org.au/babiesandinfants.aspx

Department of Health :Evidence-based oral
health promotion resource

http://docs.health.vic.gov.au/docs/doc/Evidence
-based-oral-health-promotion-resource-(2011)


ORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AVAILABLE:
Greater Dandenong Early Years Oral Health
Program
The Greater Dandenong Early Years Oral
Health Program is being run in partnership by
Healthy Together Greater Dandenong and
Monash Health. The program will be delivered
in Early Years Services in Greater Dandenong
and will consist of oral health education and
screening.
Further details can be obtained by contacting
heatlhandwellbeing@cgd.vic.gov.au


DHSV Healthy Families Healthy Smiles
Program
Is a program supporting oral health promotion
in the early years is an investment in the future
health of Victorians. The Department of Health
has provided funds to Dental Health Services
Victoria to deliver the initiative from late 2011
until June 2015. See attachments for further
information.



April 2013
The Defenders of the Tooth Munch girl,
Brush boy and Water boy are Dental Health
Services Victorias superheros who work hard
to brighten the smiles of Victorian children. The
defenders have been designed to engage
children to learn about good oral health. They
are centred on the three key messages Eat
well, Drink well and Clean well. The Defenders
of the Tooth Adventure Playground is a fun,
interactive website for kids to be entertained
and educated in oral health. Visit
www.dhsv.org.au/defenders/.
PUBIC DENTAL SERVCIES
Public dental services are provided to eligible
Victorians through community dental clinics in
community health services, rural hospitals and
the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne. For
eligible people (which includes all children
aged 0-12 years) there is some public low
cost dental services available. Details can
be found at: http://www.dhsv.org.au/public-
dental-services/dental-services-available/
See Monash health oral health services
document attached to email

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH
SERVICES: ANTICIPATORY GUIDANCE
FOR PARENTS
The Maternal and Child Health service provides
all families with free health with 10 Key Ages
and Stages consultations to support parenting,
health and development. These regular
appointments include an initial home visit and
consultations at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 4
months, 8 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2
years and 3-5 years. At each consultation,
parents are given the chance to discuss their
concerns and parenting experiences; and learn
how to improve childs health, growth and
development. This includes information on
breastfeeding, nutrition, feeding issues and oral
health.
Maternal and Child Health line (13 22 29) -
Qualified Maternal and Child Health nurses
provide information, support and advice to
Victorian families with children from birth to
school age 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To
find out further information on Maternal and
Child Health services the following websites
have information:
www.education.vic.gov.au/earlychildhood/mch/
default.htm