Nine early years settings and schools have been awarded Oral Health Accreditation from Slough Healthy Smiles because of the positive work that has been done to improve oral health for under-fives.

Staff have learnt how to actively promote tooth brushing and oral health have been running themes sessions with both children and parents. They’ve also been promoting a reduction of the sugar content of food and drinks at home as well as encouraging parents to take young children to dentists.

Currently, the town has the highest tooth decay rate in the South East and is one of 13 identified nationally under the Starting Well: A Smile4Life Initiative, where tooth decay in under-fives is at a particularly high level.

The nine newly accredited settings in Slough are Jack in Box Nursery, Cippenham Nursery, Cippenham Baptist Preschool, Little Diamonds Pre-School, Homestart Burnham, Colnbrook Nursery, Toad Hall Nursery, Claycots Nursery and Claycots primary school, which are both on the Britwell campus.

Cllr Natasa Pantelic, cabinet member for health and social care, said: “Congratulations to our early years settings for being awarded with their oral health accreditation, and spreading the message about how important good oral health is at an early age.

“Through the healthy smiles campaign, we have been working with parents, schools and early years settings to raise awareness of the impact high levels of sugar has on teeth and health, as well as the importance of brushing teeth twice a day, and registering with an NHS dentist, which is free for children.”