Welcome to BYTE
BYTE stands for Brush Your Teeth Every day.
Dental disease is the most common preventable disease. Tooth brushing helps prevent tooth decay and unhealthy gums. The Ministry of Health recommends everyone brushes their teeth twice daily for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste and spit, but do not rinse following. Around half of New Zealanders do not do this.
Help provide BYTE packs
The BYTE Charitable Trust has provided about 20,000 free toothbrush and toothpaste packs to communities and groups in need since 2012. BYTE has developed a partnership scheme which allows a single business or individual to team up with a social agency that is seeking BYTE packs for the at-need groups they see.
If your business or practice would like to partner with a social agency/ school/ church / health group that supports people then register your interest.
If you would like to support the BYTE Charitable Trust but do not wish to be a partner then donate here.
Paraihe niho mo te waha hauora
of children do not brush twice a day in New Zealand.
of adults and children, mostly in deprived neighbourhoods do not brush twice a day.
of people 25 to 34 have unmet need for dental care.
Meet our team
Jo Malcolm
Trustee
Jo Malcolm is a communications and media expert with 12 years’ experience as a journalist in newspapers, television and current affairs. She has been teaching broadcast journalism and communications at the University of Canterbury since 2007 and was the director of communications with the All Blacks for 13 years. She has a vision to see all children brushing their teeth in schools to build good habits for the future.
Juliet Gray
Trustee
Juliet Gray is a specialist in special care dentistry, working in Christchurch on and off since 1992. She has also worked around New Zealand and in the UK providing care for adults with high needs and vulnerabilities to have a comfortable mouth with dignity.
Steve Manning
Founder and Director of BYTE
Steve Manning is the founder and director of BYTE. He is a dental specialist in Christchurch and has been working in the industry for more than 30 years.
His passion is to supply preventive measures – BYTE packs consisting of a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste – to stop the exact issues that keep him busy.
Martin Lee
Trustee
Martin Lee is a dental public health specialist who works for Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand. He has been involved with research around fluoridation for the past 25 years.
Martin has been a trustee with BYTE since it began. He knows brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is the best foundation for good oral health.
Annemarie Mora
Trustee
Annemarie Mora is a lawyer specialising in commercial and charities law. She has previously had more than 20 years in the public relations field. Annemarie is passionate about the charitable sector and how this bridges the vast gap in society. She believes oral health can be the key to a good life.