Preschoolers may be cute, but once they open their mouths, chaos
ensues. Children as young as four wear metal caps on their teeth
while others already have numerous cavities.
Hollister – Preschoolers may be cute, but once they open their mouths, chaos ensues. Children as young as four wear metal caps on their teeth while others already have numerous cavities.
That’s why San Benito County Department of Health is starting a new program to educate parents and kids up to five years old about how to develop good dental habits. They hope the steps they take today will improve not only kids’ smiles, but contribute to their health for the rest of their lives and save taxpayers money by reducing the number of people who need treatment.
The trial program is the result of a $123,000 grant from California’s First 5 commission and will run for six months in several local schools. During that time, the program will send educators into classrooms to teach kids about the importance of brushing their teeth, eating healthy and regularly seeing a dentist.
“It’s important to start young because so many communicable diseases can be prevented with good dental hygiene,” said Colleen Conley, a county public health nurse who runs the Child Care Health Linkages, a program of the department.
Dental problems are the No. 1 reason for school absences and preventing them will boost the number of kids in the classroom, contributing to a better a learning environment, Conley said.
Many parents don’t know it, but the key to good dental hygiene starts the day a child is born, according to San Benito health department.
Mouth bacteria is the number one cause of cavities, more so than sugar, said Muree Reafs, director of nursing at San Benito County of Health.
Yet mothers are constantly passing bacteria from themselves to their children when they share utensils, blow on their food and put their fingers in their babies’ mouths, she said.
One of the preschools that will benefit from the program is Mi Escuelita, a state funded preschool in San Juan Bautista.
“We have many families who are living below the poverty level,” said Cindy Guajardo, site supervisor. “They are worried about putting food on the table and making ends meet, so dental care is a low priority for them.”
A public health worker will do monthly presentations at the school to educate kids about brushing teeth and to pass out free toothbrushes.
As part of the program, which the county is partnering with the Monterey Oral Health Project, a mobile van will travel to local pre-schools to assess kids’ teeth and make referrals as needed. Some of the schools involved will be the Head Start Preschools on Line Street and San Felipe Road, the Migrant Education Preschool and First 5 Early Child Education Center.
Many parents lack education about dental health and don’t make an effort to brush their kids’ teeth or take them to the dentist, even if they have insurance.
“Parents think that baby teeth are not important because they will just fall out, but that’s just not true,” said Reafs.
Karina Ioffee covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or ki*****@fr***********.com
