DRAGONS don’t usually have dental hygiene on their minds, but Chomper the dragon is no ordinary guest.
Kindergartens across Gannawarra and Loddon are celebrating Dental Health Week, running from August 4 to 10, with fun activities, free resources, and a strong message about lifelong oral health.
This year’s national theme, Reach Every S-milestone, focuses on helping children and families build healthy habits from an early age.
Local kindergartens in towns including Boort, Inglewood, Wedderburn, Dingee, Pyramid Hill, Cohuna, Kerang, Koondrook and Leitchville are all joining in the fun through the Smiles 4 Miles program.
Delivered by Northern District Community Health, the program is an initiative of Oral Health Victoria.
It promotes key oral health practices such as healthy eating and drinking, daily toothbrushing, and regular dental check-ups.
This week, NDCH staff – along with crowd-favourite mascot Chomper the dragon – are visiting kindergartens to teach kids about the Drink Well, Eat Well, Clean Well message in an interactive and engaging way.
NDCH acting chief executives Deanne Radcliffe and Mansoor Hussain said Dental Health Week is a great opportunity to help young children form healthy habits that last a lifetime.
“Sometimes life gets busy, but this week is a great reminder that oral health is vital to our overall wellbeing,” Ms Radcliffe said.
A new addition this year is a story walk in Cohuna featuring Going to the Dentist by Anne Civardi – combining literacy, outdoor fun, and oral health education.
Children will also receive free oral health packs, filled with practical and playful resources to help families start conversations about dental care at home.
“We want to make it easy and fun – and Chomper certainly helps with that,” Mr Hussain said.
Boort District Health continues to support the Smiles 4 Miles program while also offering a wide range of dental services across the region.
From toddlers to aged care residents, BDH provides both public and private care, and participates in the in-school Smile Squad program.
All children aged 0-18 can access free dental care through BDH to ensure consistent, preventive check-ups.
Private dental clinics are also available in Kerang and Cohuna, and families may be eligible for free or reduced-cost treatment under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. To learn more, contact your local dental provider.
