KidsCan Dental Programme

Your child’s early childhood centre or kōhanga reo has given you a whānau dental pack to take home.

It’s part of our new Dental Programme, created with support from the New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA) to help Tamariki and their whānau build strong toothbrushing habits — at home and at their centre.

Centres or kōhanga reo can roll out the full programme from June, but you can start great routines with your child right now.

Healthy teeth help children focus, learn and feel confident.
But many children in Aotearoa aren’t brushing often enough — and the impact can be serious.

·       One third of children are not brushing their teeth twice a day which means they may not be getting the protection they need.

·       Over a third of children have tooth decay before they turn six.

·       Over 31,000 children needed teeth removed last year due to decay — something that can be prevented with regular brushing.

Brushing every day makes a huge difference. When we trialled this dental programme:

·       82% of tamariki ended up brushing at least twice a day

·       More than 60% of whānau saw more enthusiasm for brushing at home.

Small routines make a big difference.