A New Approach to Oral Health in Rural Kindergartens
In an effort to improve the oral health of young children in rural Victoria, Australia, a pilot program is underway in kindergartens across the Loddon Mallee region. This program, developed in collaboration with La Trobe University and Dental Health Services Victoria, introduces a new method of dry tooth brushing.
The program aims to address the high rates of tooth decay among rural children, particularly those living in areas without fluoridated water. Studies have shown that over 50% of Victorian children aged up to 12 in these areas have higher than average rates of decayed, missing, and filled teeth. This number jumps to 78% for children under five.
The dry brushing technique involves children brushing their teeth together as a group for two minutes, using a small amount of low-fluoride toothpaste and then spitting the toothpaste into paper towels. This method ensures that the fluoride remains on the teeth for longer, maximizing its effectiveness.
"One of the things that does is make sure that the children are not rinsing their mouths after they brush their teeth … because that washes the fluoride off, and many of the towns in rural Victoria don't have fluoride in their water," explained public health researcher Virginia Dickson-Swift.
The program also emphasizes the importance of habit formation and establishing a regular tooth brushing routine. Early childhood educators supervise the children and ensure they brush for the full two minutes.
"In an early childhood setting the focus is not really on brushing technique," said Professor Dickson-Swift. "It's really about habit formation and thinking about improving oral health — brushing your teeth is a really important part of that."
The program is being implemented at no cost to families, with toothbrushes and toothpaste provided by Dental Health Services Victoria. The hope is that this initiative will lead to improved oral health outcomes for rural children and contribute to a lifetime of healthy habits.