Programme Background

The Department of Health (“DH”) has launched the Bright Smiles Baby Programme (“BSBP”) since June 2023 for young children aged 0 to 3 receiving child care services or studying in Standalone Child Care Centres (“CCCs”). It aims to increase parents' knowledge on oral health and improve parents' skills in cleaning their children's teeth, thereby helping children establish good habits of oral hygiene, dietary and oral check-up as early as possible. The BSBP invites all standalone CCCs registered with the Social Welfare Department (“SWD”) (both aided and private/non-profit making) that offer classes for young children aged 0 to 2 to participate, under which free oral check-ups for assessing risk of tooth decay, application of topical fluoride for controlling tooth decay depending on the child's age and need, educational workshops for parents and caregivers, and pamphlets for the BSBP will be provided. For children with high risk of tooth decay, telephone follow-up for their parents will be arranged.

The DH has expanded the target groups under the BSBP in phases since April 2025 to cover young children aged 0 to 3 using Maternal and Child Health Centre (“MCHC”) services. Currently, the BSBP's service has covered all MCHCs, providing infants and young children aged under 3 and their parents with caries risk assessments and oral health guidance and/or oral check-ups. Fluoride varnish for the prevention of tooth decay will also be applied where necessary.

Programme Objectives

BSBP aims to reduce caries in young children through:

  1. Raising the awareness of oral health and improving knowledge of oral care habits among parents and caregivers
  2. Empowering parents and caregivers to practice health feeding methods
  3. Encouraging parents and caregivers to start seeking regular dental check-ups from as early as possible after the eruption of the first tooth

Target Beneficiaries

Young children aged 0 to 3 (aged 0 to 36 months)

Scope of Services

Under the BSBP, the following services will be provided free of charge to participating young children by the DH based on their age, as appropriate:

  • For 6-17 month children
    • Oral health risk assessment
    • Individualized oral health care advice for parents and caregivers
    • Telephone follow-up for parents and caregivers of children with high risk of tooth decay
  • For 18-36 month children
    • Oral health risk assessment
    • Oral check-up
    • Topical fluoride application as appropriate
    • Oral health assessment report
    • Individualized oral health care advice for parents and caregivers
    • Telephone follow-up for parents and caregivers of children with high risk of tooth decay
Free oral care workshops will also be provided to deliver oral health messages to parents and caregivers, thereby cultivating good oral care and dietary habits among children from an early age.

How to Enroll

You may participate in this programme by completing the risk assessment form. Click here to complete the risk assessment form.

For enquiries, please contact Oral Health Promotion Division at 2199 9253 during office hours. Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (public holidays excluded).

Leaflets