What’s the biggest concern of parents and child care providers regarding kids’ teeth health? No, it’s not bottle-weaning, healthy snacks...or even that first dental visit by age 1. Hands down, you and the parents in your program say brushing young children’s teeth and preventing cavities are your top concerns. That’s what you told Tooth Talk in a series of focus groups in 2016. Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma. Twenty-three percent of two- to five-year-olds have had a cavity; fluoride toothpaste is proven to prevent cavities in little teeth and is an easy and cost-effective way to have a positive impact on the dental health of young children.
Proposed new North Carolina child care regulations are set to roll out in the summer of 2017, with a change that will promote and facilitate classroom brushing programs. It’s important that all toothbrushing activities align with state sanitation rules. The goal is to help you deliver a toothbrushing program that works for little teeth–and NC governing bodies.
According to the North Carolina Environmental Child Care Sanitation Program:
*Toothbrushes must be individually identified, allowed to air dry and protected from contamination. SR .2820 (e)
*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)
You matter! Good teeth health practices in child care facilities promote good overall health. A healthy mouth without pain from toothache and cavities helps young children hit important developmental milestones, eat, grow, learn, play, sleep, talk and smile. You and the work you do in early child care centers provide a nurturing environment for positive dental care behaviors.
To review the child care rules, visit http://ehs.ncpublichealth.com/docs/rules/294306-10-2800.pdf
To watch short, super-helpful videos about toothbrushing and teeth health, visit the Videos sections.
Watch for a new Tooth Talk story next month!
