February is National Children’s
Dental Health Month!
Kicking off the celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month, Dr. Nguyen (Menlo Park Dental Excellence) joined Dr. Sharma (Palo Alto Oral Health) and Mary Conway (Executive Director of the Mid-Peninsula Dental Society) gave a presentation and demonstration on how to properly brush and floss teeth at the Escondido School in Palo Alto, CA on February 6, 2019.
Prior to the presentation, students watched “Geena the Giraffe’s Tremendous Tooth Adventure” where the video shows the “importance of good oral care and how Geena meets characters in a dream that teach her to stay away from candy and sweets and instead to choose fruits and veggies that help keep her teeth strong and cavity-free. Her dream ends with a visit to Doc Croc who shows her all the things that happen during a visit to the dentist and how important regular check-ups are for her teeth and gums.”
After the video, a presentation was given, from which students learned what the role of a dentist is, the difference between good and bad foods, about ways to prevent early childhood caries/cavities, proper brushing and flossing techniques, and the process of tooth decay.
Both Dr. Nguyen and Dr. Sharma gave demonstrations on how to brush teeth and floss using the Crocodile dentist toy and shoelaces as floss. Afterwards, the students were given free oral health screenings when Drs. Nguyen and Sharma checked for cavities and other concerns. Each classroom was given a bag from ADA’s Give Kids a Smile that included a toothbrush, toothpaste and fun, coloring activities and resources for their parents.
It is important for children, from a very early age beginning around two years old, to learn that brushing and flossing their teeth 2 or 3 times a day after every meal will help keep them for a lifetime. A healthy smile is important to a child’s self-esteem. With proper care, a balanced diet and regular dental visits, their teeth can remain healthy and strong.
Helpful Resources:
- Teaching Your Children How To Brush And Floss
- https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en
- http://2min2x.org/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGcUSsbPsQQ Geena the Giraffe’s Tremendous Tooth Adventure
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJAHsCnMc40 DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD
| Dentists Are There to Help Song | PBS KIDS
This program is provided by the Mid-Peninsula Dental Society and
ADA Give Kids a Smile Program.
Pictured (left to right): Dr. ChauLong Nguyen, Dr. Shiv Sharma
Dr. Nguyen demonstrated how to floss properly.
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