Dental Hygiene students teach local children about oral health practices
Brush your teeth morning and night, up and down, and left to right.
These simple instructions — which many of us surely forget — were recently delivered by students in the University of New England’s Dental Hygiene program to dozens of children at the Children’s Center across from the University’s Portland Campus.
Under the coordination of Rachael Salamon, RDH, M.S.D.H., assistant clinical professor of Dental Hygiene, the group of seven students from the Class of 2021 travelled to the playground behind the center on Friday, Oct. 30. There, they played a game of “Good Snack or Bad Snack” with the children, most of whom wore Halloween costumes, and demonstrated proper teeth-brushing etiquette on oversized props.
Participating students said the experience was vital in ensuring that children grow up learning healthy oral hygiene habits.
“Many people don't realize how important oral health is and how the foods we eat not only influence our oral health but also our overall health,” said Amanda Greenwood. “By reaching out and educating at a young age, we hope to build lifelong awareness about what we put into our bodies as well as why oral hygiene is so crucial to maintaining an overall state of wellness.”
The lesson was planned to coincide with the end of October, which was National Dental Hygiene Month. The annual event serves as a reminder to practice daily behaviors that promote healthy teeth and gums.
Given that most children eat candy on Halloween, it was the perfect opportunity to educate the youngest generation about preventing oral disease, such as cavities, students said.
“Poor oral health can negatively impact a child's quality of life, so getting out into the community to educate kids is vital,” commented Julia Hamilton, while Baylee Flemming said she is “looking forward to doing more work like this in the future.”
Salamon stated she is proud of the students, who are all student members of the American Dental Hygienists' Association, for their creativity and for their commitment to educating the community.
“The students felt strongly about coming up with a way to reach out to children in the community during National Dental Hygiene Month, and the playground was the perfect setting to be distanced while having fun and learning about oral health,” she remarked.
