Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in the project “Healthy Teeth for Healthy Kids”, a school based program created to provide preventive oral health education to elementary school children who are at a stage of forming their own health habits.  Programs like “Healthy Teeth for Healthy Kids” provide an opportunity to install healthy lifelong practices.  

Specifically, the project focused on a group of 3rd and 4th-grade students from the Ascension School in New York City, between the ages of 8 and 9, who participated in an instructive and interactive presentation consisting of videos, oral expositions and one to one demonstrations. The program was designed to provide education and awareness regarding the importance of dental hygiene, oral disease process and preventive measures as well as nutritional advice for elementary schoolers. 

In this project I was personally responsible for giving the students a better understanding of the importance of proper oral hygiene, explain the progression of the cariogenic process as well as for providing hands-on instruction on appropriate home care methods according to the participants knowledge level and dexterity. 

The success of the “Healthy teeth for healthy kids” was proven by the children’s knowledgeable feedback. The participants demonstrated adequate  understanding of the importance of good oral hygiene as well as the impact of nutrition and caries preventable measure s in the maintenance of a healthy smile.

 

“Healthy Teeth for Healthy Kids” Public Health Program