Children have been learning the right techniques and care so they can take responsibility for their own health.

Junior education program Smiles 4 Miles helped children learn the basics to drink well, eat well and clean well in a bid to set good habits for oral health from a young age.

Grampians children have one of the state's worst rates of rotting smiles. Three in five Grampians children present to public dental clinics with tooth decay.

One in two Ballarat children have not visited a dentist before the age of five.

Ballarat Community Health general manager Katherine Cape said dental health week, which starts Monday, was an important reminder for all families to check up on their teeth.

"The daily steps for optimal oral health are brush teeth twice a day, eat a variety of fruit and vegetables, have fewer sugary drinks and have regular check-ups with your dentist," Ms Cape said.

Why to learn why you should meet an oral educator, like Shannon (pictured below) to feel more at ease before seeing a dentist. Click on the photo to learn more

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