We Are Tooth Healthy Policy
We Are Tooth Healthy Policy
Healthy Snacking Policy
- set healthy habits for life
- prevent tooth decay
- keep smiles looking good
- improve overall health and nutrition
This applies to snacks and drinks offered in nursery, also applies restrictions on children and parents bringing food and drinks into nursery.
Healthy Snack Ideas:
- All Fresh Fruit
- All Fresh Vegetables
- Bread and savoury products; toasts, rolls, muffins, crumpets, bread sticks, naan breads, French stick, pitta bread, plain crackers, plain rice cakes, plain pop corn.
- Sandwiches with savoury fillings such as: cheese or cheese spreads, sugar free peanut butter, eggs, lean meat, fish.
- Cheese products
Healthy Drink Ideas:
- Milk and water only
Drinks and Snacks to AVOID Between Meals:
- Biscuits, cakes, pastries
- Crisps
- Dried fruit, fruit drinks and smoothies
- Breakfast cereals, muesli and cereal bars
- Fizzy drinks
- Milk shakes, hot chocolate, cordial, fruit juices, flavoured water
- Tea and coffee
- Unsweetened or ‘no added sugar’ drinks still contain decay causing sugars
Check labels on food and drinks for sugars that cause tooth decay;
Glucose
Glucose syrup
Fructose
Concentrated fruit juice
Sucrose
Dextrose
Honey
Inverted sugar
Maltose
Hydrolysed starches
Birthday and Celebration Policy
Birthdays and celebrations are important occasions for children and should be marked as a happy and special occasion still maintaining healthy eating.
Parents should be discouraged from sending in cakes and sweet foods.
If the birthday or occasion is to be celebrated with a cake this must be consumed as desert with the main lunch time or evening meal and not as a snack or at different time of day to a meal.
The occasion can be marked in another way;
- everyone sings ‘happy birthday’
- a pretend cake can be made from play dough, paper and boxes etc
- balloons, stickers and banners
- a healthy snack can be chosen by the birthday child
- a special crown or hat can be made for the birthday child
- a small gift can be given to the child
Parents should be made aware of the birthday treat policy.
Staff should not use sweet foods as a reward to children.
Dummies, Teething, Sugar-free Medicine and Feeder Cups
Dummies;
- If parents chose offer a dummy to settle baby for sleep
- If dummy falls out once baby is asleep don’t put it back in
- If baby doesn’t want a dummy don’t force it
- Do not dip or coat the dummy in anything sweet
- Try to wean baby off dummy by one year
Teething Pain;
- relief can be found by offering baby something hard to chew on such as raw carrot or apple
- sugar free pain relief medicine can be used
- Rusks and teething biscuits contain sugar so should be avoided
Sugar Free Medicine;
- ask the Dr or pharmacist to prescribe or provide sugar free medicines
- all over counter medicines are available in sugar free forms
Feeder Cups;
- free flowing feeder cup should be introduced at 6 months, weaning the child from a bottle by one year
Accidents Involving Teeth
- Children risk chipping or knocking teeth out through falls and accidents. Adult supervisors and carers should know how to cope with such emergencies;
If a Child Falls and Bangs Their Mouth:
- do not rinse the mouth this encourages bleeding
- gentle clean up blood following infection control procedures
- check if a tooth is missing if so locate the tooth and place in a glass of milk and seek dental help immediately
- reassure child and ask them to bite on a gauze or cotton wool pack to stem bleeding
- contact the child’s parent or guardian ask them to take to regular dentist
- if the child isn’t registered with a dentist contact Salford Community Health at Pendleton Gateway 0161 211 7460 for further advice
- if the injury seems more severe take them to A&E or call 999 such as the child is having difficulty breathing and the missing tooth is unaccounted for
Tooth Brushing
Lunch time brushing
- all children brush their teeth once per day 20 mins after lunch
- Natalie is designated to monitor the programme The children brush in groups supervised by their key person
- Parental consent forms have been signed for every child taking part
- After brushing the children are encouraged to spit once and not rinse
- there is a written daily log kept of all tooth brushing
- tooth paste and brushes are not shared
Storage of tooth brush packs
- each child has their own bag containing their tooth brush and tooth paste
- each bag has a name label
- the packs are stored in the cupboard away from the toilet area
- the packs are in a not air tight box
- the bags are laundered monthly
Hand washing
- liquid soap is available at all staff and children’s hand washing sinks
- paper towels and available at all hand washing sinks
- children and staff wash their hands before tooth brushing
- hand washing posters are on display by sinks
Healthy eating and snacking policy
- the nursery has a healthy eating and snacking policy
- there is a birthday treat and celebration policy
- milk and water are the only drinks available to children
- examples of healthy snacks are outlined in the healthy snacking policy
- sweet foods are not given as a treat or reward
Training and support/referrals
- all staff have undertaken oral health training and will be revised at regular intervals
- oral health education sessions take place with the children in forms of books, discussions and demonstrations
- oral health education is given to parents in form of new letters, leaflets, policies and posters and via social media
- staff are aware of the Red Pepper programme for 4-12yr olds, parents would also be advised to take their child to the dentist for advice
- healthy breakfast and after school activities are available also in holiday club
- staff are aware of referral procedures to family and community support