KEY POINTS:
Little Brandon Ieremia loves to brush his teeth, often reminding his mum and younger sister of "toothbrush time".
The 2-year-old from Manurewa - who has type one diabetes - was yesterday the first patient at Auckland's Starship to get a free toothbrush and toothpaste, while being the face of the hospital's newest project, Oral Health Month, which begins today.
Brandon, who's family immigrated from Samoa last November, was diagnosed with diabetes this week and was in hospital having blood tests.
His mother Lynn said he enjoys brushing his teeth and encourages his little sister - 1-year-old Briana - to do so too.
"It's their favourite part come bath time - brushing their teeth.
"They will remind me too and say: 'Mummy, brush teeth'," Mrs Ieremia said.
Starship's oral health project, which runs for two weeks, aims to get more children visiting their dentists, after national statistics showed around half of Kiwi youngsters under 5 have cavities and decayed teeth.
Mrs Ieremia said she often explains to her son and daughter the importance of taking care of their teeth.
"Brandon knows you've got to brush your teeth or else you're going to get holes in them.
"I always make sure they brush after eating lollies and sweets, because it all gets stuck on the teeth," Mrs Ieremia said.
Starship's Oral Health Month will see 6000 toothbrushes and 4000 toothpaste tubes - donated by Macleans - being distributed to all Starship patients, their siblings and parents.
Macleans has also donated $20,000 to the children's hospital, which will be put towards getting new cosy-therm systems for warming newborn babies in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.
Free oral health assessments will also be offered and carried out next week, with the Auckland Regional Dental Service and AUT's oral health third-year students giving that service.
Project manager Kathy Peacock said lots of parents are too busy to take their children to the dentist and many do not know of the free service available to their children.
