Did you know that 33% of five-year-old children have hurt their baby teeth? As young children learn to walk and play, they are more likely to experience teeth and mouth injuries. That’s why it’s important to keep child care facilities safe and develop smart habits to prevent accidents and protect children’s smiles.
According to the National Center on Health, Brush Up on Oral Health, child care staff and parents can protect children by:
- Performing safety checks of areas where children play: look at playground equipment for age-appropriateness, remove tripping hazards, use safety gates, and cover sharp corners on furniture.
- Listing steps to follow to prevent injuries and to effectively and quickly handle them when they happen: ask people in the know (health advisory committee members, parents, child safety experts, and others) to support your safety program with good ideas and advice.
- Documenting all injuries: keep a log and review it to help identify patterns and determine where changes are needed. Always inform parents when an injury occurs.
- Educating staff, parents, and children: trainings, meetings, newsletters, and social media may all be used to prevent oral injuries. Remind the parents in your program to use this handy, printable chart from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to learn more about preventing dental injuries.
Use these strategies to make a difference in the oral health of the little ones in your care!
