Aim: Oral health literacy is an important determinant of health, as research shows poor oral health literacy is linked to poor oral health outcomes, however limited evidence is available regarding oral health literacy initiatives for children.

Research has shown a gap in children’s oral health literacy regarding knowledge and understanding of fluorides for preventing dental caries. Given that the use of fluorides to prevent caries has the largest evidence base for any preventive oral health intervention, it is important to explore initiatives to improve children’s oral health literacy regarding fluorides for good oral health.

Methods: The role of storytelling is recognised as being central to children’s health literacy development, so a children’s picture book was published to address the identified gap in knowledge and understanding of fluorides for good oral health.

An interactive BIG book format was published for read aloud circle time at libraries.  Children take part in the group reading to develop their literacy skills; and engage with the book’s characters through a book reading stage and costume play. The BIG book is used to start group conversations around the magic of fluoride for good oral health. A book glossary, wisdom tooth tips and information page for teachers and parents provides additional literacy support.

Early shared reading experiences build language and literacy skills, so a standard size book was provided for families. The colourful text and rhyming pattern enable collaborative reading with parents and siblings and extends the BIG book group-based learning into the family home.

Children use drawing as a process to convert health messages into usable information, so book extension activities were developed focused on drawing activities, competitions and awards, facilitated by the library service. Supportive oral hygiene products and digital resources were also developed.

Conclusion: “Who is the Tooth Fairy’s best friend?” is an Australian oral health literacy initiative which has been successfully implemented in public libraries, school libraries, and ‘Libraries After Dark’ in rural and urban communities. It serves as a model to promote librarians as oral health champions and to integrate children’s oral health literacy into library settings.

Child and family health literacy