An Eastern Bay Kohanga Reo has spread the good dental hygiene message to win a regional Te Wero Oranga-a-Waha ‘oral health challenge'.

Te Kohanga Reo o Tanatana won the challenge for Eastern Bay of Plenty. The week-long challenge, organised by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board's Oral Health Promotion team, had a theme of ‘He tino taonga nga niho pepi' ‘baby teeth are important'.

'We were runners-up last year so are very pleased to have won this year,” says teacher Rahera Ratu.

Rahera says their week of activities focused on oral hygiene and healthy eating.

'There was a visit to the dental health nurse in Waimana, who explained the importance of brushing.

'We regularly support the tamariki to attend and be comfortable in their yearly appointments. We also had a focus on the food we give our children, the benefits of a healthy diet, and encouraged parents to pack healthy lunchboxes.

'Following on from that we also promoted growing your own veges. The kohanga has its own garden, growing a range of vegetables.

'We wanted to encourage parents to grow their own at home. We're a rural area, it can save you money and it's good for you, so it makes sense.”

The fun activities were recorded in a scrapbook to promote and nurture good oral health for life.

The 25 children, aged six months to six years, took part in the challenge and prizes included water bottles; toothbrushes and toothpaste; and a box of fruit and vegetables.

All participants also got certificates and a laminated copy of their scrapbook.

BOPDHB Oral Health Promoter Hatea Ruru congratulated every participating kohanga and says the standard of the challenge had been very high. He was delighted with their commitment and effort to promote oral health in their setting and wider.

”Looking after baby teeth sets the foundation for looking after adult teeth,” he says.