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All smiles for Ayrshire and Arran
During National Smile Month 2015, NHS Ayrshire & Arran Oral Health Promotion Team organised a display competition for care homes across North, East, and South Ayrshire taking part in the Caring for Smiles Programme.
Caring for Smiles is Scotland’s national oral health promotion, training and support programme for staff in care homes. The programme aims to work in partnership with managers and staff to deliver training that meets the needs of care home residents. This ensures staff have the knowledge and skills required to improve and maintain their residents’ oral health and, in turn, maximise the health and wellbeing of all people living in care homes.
The care homes received a National Smile Month campaign pack containing resources which could be used as they wished in the care home. They were encouraged to create a display or event promoting the importance and benefits of good oral health in a fun and imaginative way which would be on view to staff, residents and relatives for the duration of National Smile Month.
Hazel Andrew, Oral Health Project Lead, commented: “National Smile Month is an excellent opportunity to bring an element of fun to a serious issue. Good oral health is vital for a healthy smile as well as a healthy body.
“We hope everyone had fun designing the displays and continue to use them after the judging to promote good oral health care.”
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Entries for the competition included poems, a huge wooden mouth (carved and hand- painted by residents), a beautifully hand-painted papier-mâché mouth complete with toothbrush and carrot, and the creation of oral health heroes and villains such as ‘The Tooth Decay Troop’ and ‘Captain Denture’.
Throughout National Smile Month, residents played quizzes, catch phrase competitions and famous smile games. Hints, tips, and historical facts were shared, and healthy drinks and snacks were promoted at various events involving residents, family members and the local community.
The imaginative ideas and high standard of competition displays and events made judging very difficult. However, the Oral Health Promotion team were delighted to present all of the care homes participating in the competition with a certificate, and the winners with beautiful baskets of fruit which had been very kindly donated by Tesco.
East Ayrshire: First place - Burnfoot Care Home, Patna Runner-up – Torrance Lodge Nursing Home, Kilmarnock
South Ayrshire: First place – Ainslie Manor Care Home, Girvan Runner-up – Fairknowe Nursing Home, Maybole
North Ayrshire: Burnlea Nursing Care Home, Largs Runner-up – Caledonia Care Home, Saltcoats
The British Dental Health Foundation’s Chief Executive Dr Nigel Carter OBE added: “I’m delighted that the NHS Ayrshire & Arran Oral Health Promotion Team has joined the
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thousands of organisations who have engaged with National Smile Month this year. It is a great reflection of local community spirit and an excellent way to promote good oral health.
By making an event as fun and imaginative as possible, we hope it will inspire more people to help to deliver the foundation’s three key messages for good oral health: brush your teeth last thing at night and on at least one other occasion with a fluoride toothpaste; cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks; and visit your dentist regularly.”
For more information visit www.smilemonth.org or contact the Oral Health Promotion Team on 01294 323 455.
Ends
Date of release: Friday 2 October 2015
Photographs: 280915smileburnfoot: Staff, residents and relatives from Burnfoot Care Home, Patna receiving their winner’s certificate from the NHS Ayrshire & Arran Oral Health Promotion Team. 280915smileainslie: Pauline Perratt (Manager) and David Muller (Depute Manager) receive their certificate from Claire Smith (Oral Health Promoter) at Ainslie Manor Care Home. 280915smileburnlea: Staff and residents from Burnlea Nursing Care Home in Largs pose with their winning papier-mâché mouth and carrot.
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Vhairi Slaven Communications Assistant NHS Ayrshire & Arran University Hospital Crosshouse
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Kilmarnock KA2 0BE
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