Improving oral health for children and families
The Leeds 0 to 19 PHINS Oral Health team works across the city to help children, young people, and families look after their teeth and gums.
We provide evidence‑based programmes that focus on:
- preventing tooth decay
- helping families build healthy oral‑health habits
Our aim is to support good oral health from pregnancy through to young adulthood, so every child can grow, learn, and smile with confidence.
What we do
The Leeds 0 to 19 PHINS Oral Health team delivers:
- Supervised Toothbrushing Scheme: Helping children build strong brushing habits in some nurseries, schools and SILC settings.
- Community events: Sharing key oral health messages across Leeds.
- Professional training: Providing training so staff can support families with clear, evidence‑based oral health information.
Why good oral health matters
Healthy teeth and gums are an important part of a child or young person’s overall health and wellbeing. Good oral health helps them to:
- eat, sleep and speak comfortably
- enjoy a healthy and varied diet
- grow and develop without pain or infection
- feel confident about their smile
- avoid missing nursery or school
- reduce the need for dental treatment, including extractions
Building good habits early supports lifelong dental health and helps prevent tooth decay.
