A message from the HSE Dental Service January 2021
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The school dental programme, operated by the HSE dental service, offers appointments to second and sixth class children in national schools. However due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme is significantly disrupted. This means that there will be a delay in getting an appointment for your child. We do not know how long this delay will be, however the dental service is working hard to deal with this situation as best possible given the current circumstances.
Urgent dental care is available from most HSE dental clinics. Please contact your nearest HSE clinic for further information. Alternatively you can contact the HSE Dental Office in Naas (045 920686) or Crumlin (01 7957390).
It is vitally important that children continue to look after their oral health by maintaining a healthy diet and implementing an effective oral hygiene routine. We would like to take this opportunity to offer some diet and dental health advice.
- Always brush your teeth twice a day, in the morning and at bedtime for 2-3 minutes.
- A soft/medium toothbrush is recommended.
- Use a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. (At least 1000 ppm fluoride).
- After brushing, spit out toothpaste but do not rinse.
- Change your toothbrush when the bristles are worn or every season.
- The frequency of sugar causes damage to teeth. Sugar should be kept to mealtimes only.
- Healthy snack options include fresh fruit, plain popcorn, plain yogurt, and raw vegetables such as carrots, celery, cheese, pitta bread, crackers and sandwiches.
- Unflavoured milk and water are the only two drinks that are safe for teeth.
The following links are useful sources of information on dental health topics:
https://www.dentalhealth.ie
https://youtu.be/CmJX4GEg-h0
http://www.eapdireland.ie/for-parents.html
Some fun colouring for children: https://images.app.goo.gl/nakAr9bTad7gJ25v7
Yours faithfully
Dr Doherty
Principal Dental Surgeon
Dublin South West Kildare West Wicklow