About Raisin Awareness
As a dental nurse and mum, Jo Dawson is passionate about sharing her knowledge to support improvements in children’s oral health whilst understanding the daily challenges of family life.
Tooth extraction as a result of dental decay is the most common reason for hospital admissions for children aged 5-9 years old.
The majority of children miss at least 2 school days for hospital appointments and recovery, because of this usually preventable disease.
No parent wants to see their child suffer, especially if it is preventable.
Over 2 million children, in 16,600 Primary Schools in England, are given Raisins and Sultanas as a snack 6 times a year, increasing their risk of tooth decay.
Many Primary School snack policies allow children to bring in cariogenic snacks every day. Health Halo claims on dried and processed fruit snacks are misleading, causing confusion. “No added sugar” does not mean “sugar free”.
By linking up Primary Schools with Dental Practices, supplying fresh vegetable snacks for the Raisin Swap, and delivering positive dental messages, Raisin Awareness supports and empowers change to help reduce this risk and teach our children how to make tooth-friendly healthy choices, on and off the playground.
Raisin Awareness aims to:
· Improve the Oral Health of children in Primary School
· Link Dental Practices with Primary Schools
· Support and encourage tooth-friendly options instead of dried and processed fruit snacks on the playground
· Supply regular Oral Health Education literature to all pupils
The Raisin Awareness Campaign is supported by:
Would you like to get Involved?
If you are a Dental Practice
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Read more articles about our project on our Press Page
#RaiseASmile Campaign launched for National Smile Month
SIGN THE PETITION – http://chng.it/PrM24pbCfG
As a dental nurse and mum, I’m passionate about sharing my knowledge to compassionately support improvements in children’s oral health. As a parent I trust that my children will be safe at school and not have their risk of disease increased. The government agrees that this goes against their own advice.
The School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme delivers to 2.3million of the youngest primary school children in England. Funded by the government, giving them 1 of their 5-a-day at morning break time. This is fabulous for these kids. They can concentrate better in class as their tummies aren’t rumbling.
Together, We could make it even bigger and expand to their older siblings and the rest of the school. Helping to protect the most vulnerable and offering increased nutritional benefits to all.
The scheme is currently using 30-40% British produce and importing the rest.
Together, We could make it even better for the environment, raise quality and help British farmers, by sourcing more locally and seasonally.
Together, We could make it even better by swapping the dried fruit snack for fresh tooth-friendly veg. Dental advice from Public Health England is to keep dried fruits to mealtimes to lower the risk of tooth decay. We could use this opportunity to teach our children about making snack choices which are dentally healthy as well as nutritious.
Our petition is calling on ministers to make these positive changes.
Supported by the British Dental Association, British Society of Paediatric Dentistry, British Association of Dental Nurses, British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, British Association of Dental Therapists, and the Oral Health Foundation.
Would you like to sign & share today? Thank you.