The Healthy Smile Happy Child Manitoba program provides online resources to educate families on how to care for children’s oral health.
Healthy Smile Happy Child Manitoba was created to help address high rates of early childhood tooth decay and the resultant long wait times for pediatric dental surgeries.
The program is a partnership among the following organizations:
- Manitoba Health
- University of Manitoba
- Health Canada
- Public Health Agency of Canada
- Manitoba Dental Association
- Manitoba Métis Federation
- First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba
- Regional Health Authorities in Manitoba
It is guided by three main principles:
- Relationship building and community development
- Oral health promotion
- Research and development
The program provides online resources to educate families on how to care for children’s oral health from the time the mother is pregnant through to the child's sixth birthday. This includes information related to feeding, at-home oral health care, and seeking professional dental care.
The types of resources offered include PDFs, outpatient resources like posters and flipcharts, dental games and activities, online videos, and presentations.
The team behind the Healthy Smile Happy Child program also conducts research to identify additional ways that the program can serve Manitoba communities. This includes ongoing studies through the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM).
FAQs
How can families access the resources and materials provided by the Healthy Smile Happy Child Manitoba program?
The resources are easily accessible online through the Healthy Smile Happy Child web page.
How does the program collaborate with local health authorities to reach families in remote or rural areas of Manitoba?
Healthy Smile Happy Child works with Manitoba Telehealth. This includes offering the use of Telehealth to disseminate information, resources and training to rural and remote areas.
References
- Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Early Childhood Tooth Decay
- University of Manitoba, Healthy Smile Happy Child
- Sage Journals, Healthy Smile Happy Child
- ResearchGate, The Healthy Smile Happy Child Project
- Healthy Smile Happy Child, Activity & Highlights
*The content provided in this article, including text, graphics, and referenced material, is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your dentist or another qualified oral health professional for questions regarding your dental condition. Never disregard professional dental advice or delay seeking it based on information from this article. If you believe you have a dental emergency, contact your dentist, or seek immediate assistance from an oral healthcare professional.
