What is the SCMA Happy Teeth project?

‘Happy Teeth’ is a new SCMA three-year project funded by the Scottish Government’s Oral Health Community Challenge Fund which begins in November 2019. We will work alongside the NHS Child Smile Programme to provide training and support to childminders across Scotland to encourage and implement supervised tooth-brushing within their childcare settings and to promote this within the child’s own home. This project also enables SCMA to continue our important work in the community - especially crucial in areas of need - and highlight the invaluable role that childminders play in supporting children and families.

How can childminders help support ‘Happy Teeth’?

Childminders are ideally placed in a home-from-home environment to encourage children of all ages to take a keen interest in their oral health. Providing a relaxed, fun and friendly environment to help boost children’s understanding of the importance of good oral health, childminders can help children and families forge a routine and a keen interest in looking after teeth.

This new project will help SCMA reinforce the vital role of childminders and helps provide more support for families and children; for example, by asking parents if they are registered with a dentist and if not, helping them with registration and encouraging them to engage with community dental services.

What is the aim of ‘Happy Teeth’?

• To promote Oral Health by inviting childminders to a series of informal, local ‘Happy Teeth’ Network Meetings in various locations across Scotland
• To reach more than 1000 childminders across 22 local authorities
• To help support over 1500 children and families with Oral Health over the next three years
• To encourage childminders to work with parents to support them to develop a healthy oral regime at home with their children from an early age.