Children’s dental health will take centre stage at a month-long campaign taking place in Leicester.
National Smile month takes place from May 18 to June 18, and will include a programme of events raising awareness of the importance or regular teeth brushing, avoiding sugary foods and visiting the dentist regularly.
Leicester’s programme, entitled Healthy Teeth, Happy Smiles, will launch the campaign with a fun run at Abbey Park on Monday, May 18, at10.30am.
The event is being run by Leicester City Council and charity Kids Run Free, and is open to children and staff from city-based nurseries, who can run or walk one lap of the oval near the café in the centre of the park.
All children taking part will receive free toothbrush and toothpaste packs, as well as t-shirts, balloons, booklets and bottles of water, as well as a range of free items for nursery staff.
To register to take part in the fun run, visit: http://bit.ly/1cMRizq
The city council’s oral health promotion team will also be holding road show events across Leicester throughout National Smile Month.
People can go along to the road shows to get advice on oral health, children can also take part in the two-minute dental health challenge.
The roadshows will run from 10am to 5pm at the following locations and dates:
- Beaumont Leys Shopping Centre on May 21,June 2 and June 9
- Bede Park on May 27
- Cossington Recreation Ground on May 28
- Clock Tower on May 29 and June 11
- Leicester’s Spark Festival at the LCB Depot on May 30
- Humberstone Gate West on June 4
- Gallowtree Gate on June 16
- Hamilton’s Tesco store on June 18
Libraries in the city will also run oral health-themed storytelling sessions from June 1 to 5, where every child participating will receive a free book.
Leicester already has an extensive programme to help improve dental health among children, which will tie in with National Smile Month.
They include offering supervised toothbrushing at nurseries and children’s centres