It’s said, feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. So, this season, we’re sharing how we feel: Childcare providers are at the top of our gratitude list! We thank them for all they are and do for the children in their care–from brushing little teeth to modeling good health behaviors. We appreciate their commitment, wisdom, passion, and vision for the well-being of children.
Our Tooth Talk gratitude list highlights those things that make it easier to protect children’s healthy smiles.
We’re thankful for...
- An abundance of healthy, tasty, kid-friendly snacks in grocery stores: plentiful fresh fruits and veggies, whole grain crackers, and a wider variety of cheeses.
- North Carolina pediatric dentists, specially trained oral health professionals dedicated to caring for young children’s teeth.
- Affordable toothbrushes and toothpastes. Area discount and dollar stores sell a variety of low-cost, high quality children’s toothbrushes and brand-name fluoride toothpastes. Brushing little teeth two times a day with fluoride toothpaste is the best, easiest, cheapest way to fight tooth decay.
- Expanded access to quality dental health care at pediatrician and family physician offices. These healthcare pros are providing oral health screenings and fluoride varnish at regular medical and well-child visits.
- Effective treatments that replace stressful and expensive hospitalizations of children for dental work. These include fluoride varnish and silver diamine fluoride, a protective substance painted on children’s teeth to help stop tooth decay.
- Plenty of quick and easy education tools with the latest updates and tips on good oral health for children, such as the State of North Carolina Oral Health Section, GoNapSacc.org, MouthHealthy.org, and Toothtalk.org.
