Healthy Family Tool Kit

Transcription

1 Dental Detectives Students will brush-up on their knowledge of keeping teeth healthy through fun and engaging activities. The importance of visiting the dentist, healthy eating and proper tooth care will be emphasized N. Cedar Crest Blvd., Ste. 100, Allentown, PA (610)

2 Dear Caregiver, Your child has participated in a program called presented by the Weller Health Education Center. This program reviewed daily health habits and focused specifically on student s responsibility in dental care. The students learn about their teeth, primary and secondary, and the importance of taking care of them. Through song, students learn the correct technique of how to brush properly. The students learn about the dentist and what they often look for on our teeth during a checkup. Lastly, we reviewed the importance of eating healthy foods and how that can affect the health of our teeth. The Weller Health Education Center emphasizes the importance of engaging in good dental care, along with other health habits, that build the foundation for future healthy choices. Tooth decay, also known as dental caries and cavities, affects children in the United States more than any other chronic infectious disease. Tooth decay is 5 times as common as asthma and 7 times as common as hay fever. This untreated tooth decay causes pain and infections that may lead to problems; such as eating, speaking, playing, and learning. The good news is that tooth decay and other oral diseases that can affect children are preventable. But there are so many factors that prevent people from getting the dental care that they need. Children from families without medical insurance are 2.5 times less likely than insured children to receive dental care. Children from families without dental insurance are 3 times more likely than insured children to have unmet dental needs. It has also been found that people with poor dental hygiene end up with bleeding gums. This allows any bacteria that come into the body a direct route into the bloodstream that can cause illnesses. In this toolkit you will find some sample activities to guide you in taking steps to improve family health and continue the message started today in our program. For additional resources you are welcome to utilize the parent, teacher and student resource links found on our website at Yours in good health, Weller Health Education Center Weller Health Education Center, All Rights Reserved, Copyright

3 ACTIVITIES FOR HOME Tooth Decay Activity Use a digital camera to take a "before" picture of each child, smiling and showing their shiny white teeth. Print each child's photo twice and have them color the teeth brown in one of the smiles. Use black and brown washable markers to simulate tooth decay and cavities. Have them hang it in the bathroom or use it as a reminder to brush their teeth more often. Tooth Decay Experiment If you save any baby teeth that have fallen out you can use them in this experiment. Have them soak a tooth in a different beverage for a specified length of time. Try coffee, soda pop and water. After a week or so, remove the teeth and compare the results. What color are the teeth? How are the surfaces textured? Which beverage had the worst effect? Compare these teeth to the teeth in your mouth. Try brushing these teeth, does the damage brush away? Conclude the activity by discussing the importance of cleaning your teeth between meals, and not allowing these sugary beverages the opportunity to sit on the teeth for long. Do you pass the Squeak Test? Floss your teeth and then brush for 2-3 minutes. When you have finished brushing, thoroughly rinse your mouth and spit. Take a damp finger and rub briskly back and forth on your teeth, inside and out. Your clean teeth will make a squeaking sound. When you can hear that squeaky sound on both the insides and outsides of your teeth, you have passed the squeak test! TIPS FOR HOME 1) Be a good role model, if you don t floss, brush or visit the dentist regularly, neither will your kids. Start this important habit early! 2) Explore the dental hygiene products! a. Listerine Agent Cool Blue. This wash, when used before brushing, stains the plaque in a child's mouth blue and helps them highlight the spots they might have missed. It helps to promote proper tooth brushing. b. Flavored toothpastes with their favorite characters. If your child has a favorite character, chances are there s a toothpaste/toothbrush for them! 3) Healthy eats! a. Children learn what they are taught. Teach them to choose carrots, celery, and other crunchy fruits and vegetables over junk food and candy. Encourage them to drink water for dinner instead of sodas. 4) Brushing twice a day. a. Brush for a minimum of two minutes and rinse well with water! i. Good Technique Avoid brushing too hard. You are not trying to chip off tartar, only remove the soft plaque. Place your toothbrush against your gumline at a 45-degree angle. Brush gently (using hardly any pressure at all) in small circular motions to brush the inside and outside of each tooth. Brush the inner surfaces or backs of your teeth with the front Weller Health Education Center, All Rights Reserved, Copyright

4 part of your toothbrush, holding the toothbrush almost vertical. Be sure to brush the backside of your last tooth. b. Don t forget to floss regularly. i. As the old saying goes, You don t have to floss all of your teeth, only the ones you want to keep. c. Choose toothpastes containing fluoride that helps to prevent and even reverse the early stages of tooth decay. 5) Regular Dental Visits a. Try to schedule a visit with a dentist at least once every six months to catch any potential problems early. Oral hygiene is important for your overall health, so teach your children how to keep their mouths in great health. i. You may want to take your child to a dentist who specializes in treating kids. Pediatric dentists deal with prevention and are trained to handle the wide range of issues associated with kids' dental health. 6) No dental insurance? No access to dental care? a. Many times schools will have a dental hygienist in their elementary schools and have an annual check-up. Talk with the school hygienist or nurse to find out what your child s school may offer. b. For Pennsylvania residents: Go to and click on patients for links for free or reduced cost dental clinics in your area. c. For New Jersey residents: Go to for more information. Weller Health Education Center, All Rights Reserved, Copyright

5 VOCABULARY Blood Tubes - deliver nutrients and oxygen to teeth Bone - the place where teeth are attached to our body (jaw) Canine - teeth designed to tear food (2 on top and bottom) Dentin - inside layer of tooth, spongy Enamel - outside layer, hardest part Incisors - teeth designed to bite food (top and bottom 4) Molars - teeth designed to grind, crush and chew food (4 on top and bottom) Nerve - give us feeling of pressure, hot, cold, and pain Fluoride - Fluoride exists naturally in water sources and is derived from fluorine, it is well known that fluoride helps prevent and even reverse the early stages of tooth decay. Weller Health Education Center, All Rights Reserved, Copyright