When we talk to child care providers, their biggest concern is how to implement toothbrushing programs. There’s good news for early childhood educators and caregivers: Your job of protecting children’s oral health just got easier, thanks to a new rule about fluoride toothpaste! Now, parents only have to give permission once a year for daily toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste. The recommended amount is a smear the size of a grain of rice for children from the first tooth to the third birthday, and a pea-size drop for children from the third birthday to age six.
What changed? Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease. National recommendations to help prevent tooth decay call for daily toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste beginning with the first tooth. The NC Child Care Commission recently added fluoride toothpaste to other over-the-counter-medications for up to 12 months, with a parent’s permission. (Child Care Rule .0803(7)).
Reminders:
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Parents must give authorization for children to participate in toothbrushing in their child care program. Child Care Rule .0803(7)
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Teachers/staff must dispense the toothpaste for the child.
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Toothbrushes must be individually identified, allowed to air dry and protected from contamination. Sanitation Rule (SR) .2820(e)
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When a container of toothpaste is used for multiple children, the toothpaste must be dispensed onto an intermediate surface such as waxed paper. SR .2820(e)
For details and guidance, visit Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 3rd Ed. Special Collection-Oral Health in Child Care and Early Education
