Kind to Teeth
Campaigns and Interventions:
The period from birth to five years of age is a key stage in a child’s development. Eating habits and patterns are established relatively young, this provides a window of opportunity to encourage healthy food and drink choices.
The campaign was launched in 2018 to mark the annual National Smile Month, and was developed by registered nutritionists, dental health and early years specialists and forms part of the well-known Give Up Loving Pop campaign.
Why focus on sugary drinks?
Consumption of sugary drinks is significantly linked to dental decay, which is already apparent in many children as young as three. Research suggests:
- 12% of three-year-olds have evidence of tooth decay having on average three decayed, missing or filled teeth.
- 26% of children aged 12-18 months had consumed fruit juice and smoothies.
- 26% of children aged 12-18 months had soft drinks and 46% had low-calorie soft drinks – despite guidance from Public Health England recommending only water and milk before the age of two.
Since we launched Kind to Teeth in 2018…
- 5 local authorities have delivered the campaign across England, including Blackpool, Tameside, Knowsley, Barking and Dagenham and Oxford.
- Campaigns have been delivered online but also in the community via health events, GP practices, children’s centres and dental practices.
- A training package developed by public health nutritionists and early years specialists.
- A range of free and commissioned resources suitable for a wide range of settings
More Information
Check out what resources are available as part of Kind to Teeth and all the latest news and updates from the campaign by following the buttons below.
ABOUT US
Find out more about the Food Active team and the Food Active Network
What we Do
Find out more about our programme of work and our priorities
Policy Change
Explore our work on influencing policy both locally and nationally
Campaigns
Discover our range of campaigns to promote behaviour change
Research
Find out more about our research to understand and explore the food environment
Events
Get up to speed with our past conferences and events programme