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Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

T he Infant & Toddler Fo- rum - experts in child health, nutrition and development - is stepping up its work to encour- age wider recogni- tion and adoption of its ‘Ten Steps for Healthy T o d d l e r s ’ launched last year to address the lack of sim- ple, consistent guidance on toddler eating habits. P u b l i c health is high on Govern- ment’s agenda; thosewithanin- fluence on early years’ nutrition have a significant role to play in preventing long-term health problems, yet clear guidelines are lacking. The recent School Food Trust report highlights an urgent need for Government and all stakeholders, including health practitionersandparents,towork together to address this need. Britain is facing an entirely preventable epidemic of obesity and diet-related ill-health, with a generation set to die before their parents. Health agendas need to focus on supporting practition- ers, parents and carers with ef- fective tools to help change be- haviour. ‘Ten Steps for Healthy Tod- dlers’, an easy-to-use guide on what food to offer, what eating behaviours to encourage and how best to manage mealtimes, is the Infant & Toddler Forum’s contribution to help meet this need. Endorsed by the Pre-school Learning Alliance, Child Growth Foundation, National Obes- ity Forum and the British Den- tal Health Foundation, the ‘Ten Steps’ are designed to encourage positive changes to toddler feed- ing with small easy actions. Dr Atul Singhal, Chair of the Infant & Toddler Forum, said: “Since their launch last year, the ‘Ten Steps for Healthy Toddlers’ have been widely implemented in different settings by health and childcare professionals, par- ents and carers. As well as be- ing a simple, extremely useful tool for those feeding toddlers at home, the ‘Ten Steps’ is a per- fect resource to help implement the Government’s public health strategies. “Continuing its work on early intervention through good toddler nutrition and eating be- haviour, the Forum is develop- ing activities to drive best prac- tice where there’s a need for practical support and direction. Throughout 2011 we will con- tinue to work with our partners to raise awareness and encour- age implementation of the ‘Ten Steps’. In turn, we hope health and childcare professionals will adopt the expert advice as best practice and share it with the parents, carers and toddlers with whom they interact.” The Forum plans to encour- age wider adoption of the ‘Ten Steps’ and sharing of best prac- tice with training and educa- tion programmes throughout the UK, to impart the principles and practical implementation of the Steps. Supporting those who work in the early years sector, including children’s centres and nurseries, will be a priority to help ensure all children get the best start in life. For more information on the Infant & Toddler Forum and to download free resources, Visit www.infantandtoddlerforum.org (healthcare professionals) and www.littlepeoplesplates.co.uk (parents and carers). DT Prioritising toddler nutrition B ridge2Aid are delighted to be hosting a number of events at this years’ BDA in Manchester, on the growing issue of corporate social respon- sibility and the long term value in volunteering. Posing the question wheth- er short term volunteers can make a long term difference, Friday’s 2pm seminar will see Bridge2Aid’s (B2A) founder, Dr Ian Wilson, and CEO Mark Top- ley, talking about the difference volunteers have made to the provision of oral health care for the community in Tanzania. Thursday will also see a Volun- teering Forum chaired by Habib Benzian, public health manager at the FDI and Chris Holmgren from WHO, of which B2A are a co-sponsor. B2A offer a very success- ful volunteering programme for dental professionals, known as the DVP (Dental Volunteer Programme). With 2010 feed- back hailing the Bridge2Aid DVP programme as both “mov- ing” and a “rewarding experi- ence both professionally and personally”, it’s not hard to see why 35 per cent of UK dental professionals rush back to do their second and third DVP’s. Mark Topley, CEO, Bridge2Aid said: “Our Dental Volunteer Programme has not only made such an enormous difference to the lives of the peo- ple of Tanzania but also to our volunteer dentists and nurses, many of whom have made more than one DVP as well as lifelong friends through the programme. Our Dental Volunteers feel they are contributing to something special and it reminds them why they got into dentistry. The DVP is focussed on making a sustain- able difference, not just a short term impact.” To demonstrate the long term value of volunteering for B2A, this years’ BDA will see B2A announcing how the efforts of volunteers in the dental profes- sion have enabled new steps to be taken for the charity towards tackling the bigger issues in Af- rica and to support them in their quest to free the world from dental pain. For more information on the B2A seminars at BDA Confer- encevisit www.bridge2aid.org. For further informationon B2A volun- teering programmes contact Ruth on 07748 643006 or email her at Ruth@bridge2aid.org. Visit www. bridge2aid.org to download an ap- plication form. DT Can volunteers make a difference? T he Alpha Omega Charita- ble Trust has created a me- morial prize in honour of the late Dr John Zamet, the found- ing Chairman of its London Chap- ter. Dr Zamet was an Honorary Consultant and Senior Research Fellow at the UCL Eastman Den- tal Institute and a Past President and Honorary Member of the Brit- ish Society of Periodontology and his considerable contributions to clinical periodontology have sig- nificantly advanced the field. The annual grant of £1,000 will be granted to students who are: • UK-based • Studying a Masters degree or PhD • Researching clinical periodon- tology Applicants must submit a covering letter, a letter of support from their supervisor and an ab- stract not exceeding 1,000 words (including background to project, aims, methods, relevance to clini- cal periodontology and start and completion dates). The successful applicant will also be invited to present their research to the Alpha Omega London Chapter. Applications should be sub- mitted as hard copy in triplicate, by 31st December 2011 to: Professor Andrew Eder, Chair- man, The Alpha Omega London Charitable Trust, 2nd floor, 57a Wimpole Street, London W1G 8YP And ALSO via email to: an- dreweder@restorative-dentistry. co.uk DT Clinical periodontol- ogy research grant May 16-22, 20116 News United Kingdom Edition O ral health campaign- ers, the British Den- tal Health Foundation, launched the National Smile Month at the Houses of Parlia- ment on Thursday 12th May. The annual event, held at Westminster, signalled the start of the UK’s largest oral health campaign, which this year cel- ebrated its 35th anniversary. Many leading figures from the world of dentistry were in attendance for the launch of the event which runs between May 15 and June 15 2011, going under the theme of the Smile Factor. Hosted by Parliamentary sponsor the Rt Hon Sir Paul Beresford MP, the gathering in- cluded speeches from some of dentistry’s leading experts in- cluding the Foundation’s Chief Executive Dr Nigel Carter and its President Daniel Davis. Dr Carter said on the launch of Smile Factor: “Many might underestimate it but a smile can be very influential fea- ture. It can shape our lives, our relationships and careers and be a very powerful show of emotion, yet not everyone has the confidence to do so. ‘‘Those who are not happy or are self-conscious about their teeth, could be missing out on showing off their very own ‘Smile Factor’. Others are being held back by poor oral well-being and its impact on their general health. This year’s campaign is designed to challenge those perceptions and get you smiling again. “Getting people to talk about their teeth and dental habits is vital in our goal of improving the state of oral health not only in the UK but worldwide. ‘‘We have had a tremen- dous response to the campaign, particularly in the last couple of years, but we must work harder to ensure this year’s Na- tional Smile Month can build on that success. “The launch is a superb way to kick-start the month. It is an utterly marvellous setting of which to stage such an event.” Sponsored by four gi- ants of oral health care, Plati- num Sponsors Oral-B, Wri- gley and Listerine, along with firsttime Silver Sponsor Macleans, the campaign will yet again provide an exciting opportunity for everyone to get involved in promoting good oral health. During the course of the month, the Foundation will be looking to promote their three key oral health messages. Dr Carter added: “As far as day-to-day oral health goes, our three key messages of brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, cutting down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks and visiting your dentist as of- ten as they recommend, pro- vide a firm base for a lifetime of good oral health. “Remember, having the Smile Factor can improve your confidence, your attractiveness and your general health - so don’t underrate it!” DT Houses of Parliament stages NSM launch The National Smile Month logo 2011