Parents are being encouraged to take a look into their children’s mouths as an important step towards better oral health. The ‘Lift the Lip’ promotion is one of the initiatives during Starship Hospital’s 2009 oral health campaign, which seeks to reduce the level of dental cavities in New Zealand children. Dr Clive Ross, clinical director of oral health at Auckland DHB, says: "The overall status of children’s teeth in New Zealand is by no means something we can be proud of yet, with 49% of the country’s 5-year-olds and 53% of 8-year-olds showing dental caries, according to the Ministry of Health data from 2007.” Dr Ross says sweet drinks, suboptimal diet and poor tooth-brushing practices are significant contributors to the level of dental caries in children. Auckland regional dental service manager Heather Stewart says the campaign, which started on 4 May 2009, encourages parents and all health providers to check children’s teeth as a normal part of health care. “Parents should start checking as soon as teeth appear and if they notice any dark spots they should take children for a check up.” Getting children into the Regional Dental Service is also being promoted at Starship Hospital. Child community service manager Kathy Peacock says many parents do not realise the free service is available for preschoolers as well as school children and adolescents, up till the age of 18 years.