Dental Health Services Victoria’s (DHSV) Dr Deborah Cole said the partnership between DHSV and Zoos Victoria was about learning new ways to engage families so that poor oral health does not become a significant issue in the family.
“We hope that parents and children will recognise the importance of brushing their teeth and attending dental appointments regularly.”
Werribee Open Range Zoo Hippo Keeper, Ross Taylor said oral hygiene was an important part of the hippo’s daily routine.
“Like us, hippos need to take good care of their teeth so it is great that we can partner with DHSV to share this message with our visitors.”
“We clean the hippo’s teeth every day and make sure they have a balanced diet to keep them fit and healthy,” Mr Taylor said.
So the search for Victoria’s Biggest Little Smile is on as The Biggest Little Smiles Competition encourages children to creatively think about our three key messages of: eat well, drink well and clean well.
This competition is about encouraging children to develop healthy habits for healthy teeth from a young age.
It features the hippos, who like humans require their teeth to be brushed every day.
To enter, families are encouraged to send in photos of their children demonstrating any of the three key messages in a creative and engaging way.
For more information and to enter the competition visit the DHSV website.
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