Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Toothbrushing in Preschool

    Posted 09-25-2018 06:33 AM
    I am a product of being in the Head Start Program from Teacher to Administrator for a very long time, where toothbrushing was mandated and part of the Health component.  Now that I am out of Head Start, but still in Early Childhood, it's kind of hard to get it out of my system.  I'm now working with Staff who don't value the process and have a lot of negative views about it.  I am curious to know what other  Early Childhood Professionals views are about the topic especialy those that are NOT mandated to do it, but do it anyway-- or is anyone out there doing it that Is not with Head Start?

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    Karen Rush
    HighScope Educational Research Foundation
    Redford MI
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  • 2.  RE: Toothbrushing in Preschool

    Posted 09-25-2018 10:57 AM
    I was most recently the CYP Director of a navy installation and we are mandated by the OPNAV to provide tooth brushing in all classrooms.  I hated it and so did/does my staff.  I never felt that we were able to keep the process hygienic enough to prevent the spread of illness.  I spoke with the base dentist and he stated that the true recommendation is twice daily.  He recommended that we stop in the childcare setting.  Unfortunately, the OPNAV didn't give us that option. 

    If given the choice, I would not do it and would provide parent education on why it is so important in the home setting, suggest they make it part of their daily routine, etc.  I would even invite a pediatric dentist in for a parent education event, ask him/her for literature for them to take home, etc. 

    As a parent (long ago) I opted out of my children brushing their teeth in their ECE classrooms.  Maybe I am just a germaphobe :)


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    Jennifer W. Hardy
    Association Program Specialist
    San Diego, CA
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  • 3.  RE: Toothbrushing in Preschool

    Posted 09-26-2018 12:12 AM
    I am a licensed family home and it is part of our routine to have the children brush after breakfast, lunch, and the supper meals. Most parents are very supportive of us, because dental visits are showing less cavities. A lot bit of trouble on my part, helping the younger ones and reminding the older ones, pays off in happier parents. And a happy parent is more likely to pay me on time and also help in other ways by buying things for the daycare or paying me extra on their child care bill. The parents that don't promote dental care and could care less, at least I know I am teaching the children a health skill, they might not learn otherwise.

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    Nina Webb
    Campbellsburg Childcare
    Campbellsburg IN
    Licensed Family Home Provider
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  • 4.  RE: Toothbrushing in Preschool

    Posted 09-27-2018 02:47 PM
    Hi i am a daycare provider and we brush with water as a learning aid after lunch.  each child has there own toothbrush and i bought caps to go over the top with their name on them.  the kids enjoy it.

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    christina randall
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  • 5.  RE: Toothbrushing in Preschool

    Posted 09-26-2018 07:52 AM
    ​Hello,

    Teaching at a Bright Horizon's it was required that we have the children brush their teeth after breakfast every morning. When I moved into a Kindergarten class at another center, brushing was encouraged though no one did it. I wanted to continue with them but it was difficult to get supplies as they were not regularly ordered. (Toothbrushes went directly into the trash if dropped and it was difficult to get replacements) as well as not being with my students during breakfast before our school day started.
    Now I work for as a health educator visiting schools on a variety of topics, oral health included as well as working on the development of a health based preschool. We highly encourage tooth brushing at  school as many times parents are rushing out of the door and forget or "run out of time" to do build these habits with their children. These are life skills that are essential as they grow up as well as developing their fine motor skills. Feel free to check out https://stjosephchildrenshealth.org/ for resources for families on dental health. We teach preschoolers oral health through a puppet named Hank the Health Hero. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCih908LQ60ctMQuX8WrO4QA is his channel for helpful classroom videos on the topic as well.

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    Heather Ha
    Education Coordinator
    CHI St. Joseph Children's Health
    Lancaster PA
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  • 6.  RE: Toothbrushing in Preschool

    Posted 09-26-2018 10:48 AM
    Hi,
    I am a lead teacher in a pre-school classroom that gives them a choice after lunch if they want to brush their teeth or not. we talk about our teeth and how important it is to keep them clean. I understand that sometimes you might not have the extra staff to do this...in those cases i tell the students that we will not be brushing our teeth today because miss Suzy is out and we don't have enough teachers today. We do it most days tough!
    Its always hard to add something new to a program. Good Luck! Joann

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    Joann Schock
    Teacher
    Parent Infant Center
    Philadelphia PA
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  • 7.  RE: Toothbrushing in Preschool

    Posted 09-26-2018 11:59 AM
    I had a program with lunch and we brushed after. We used cloth (washed weekly) shoe pockets that go on the back of the door and their toothbrush went head down, in a cup, in their pocket, with their small tube of toothpaste.  I heard of a program where they put the toothbrushes in the dishwasher to sterilize (no soap) each day and just passed them out to anyone for use after meals since they were sanitized. I couldn't quite do that so ours had names on them but we did put them (and cups) through the dish machine daily to cut down on germs (also falling on the floor? no problem, just throw it in the dish machine). The cups went to any child's pocket after the dish machine as they do at meals but Jamie's toothbrush was returned to a cup in Jamie's pocket. Our parents were happy to provide brushes as needed but I also sometimes asked the dentists in our town to donate brushes and travel size tooth paste. It can be done!

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    Vicki Knauerhase M.Ed.
    Child Development Specialist (retired)
    Weston OH
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  • 8.  RE: Toothbrushing in Preschool

    Posted 09-27-2018 10:48 AM
    I am a Family Child Care Provider and I have been considering toothbrushing for the children after meals.  I really want to help establish some healthy habits and I appreciate the ideas that have been shared. I especially like the ideas for keeping them sanitary.  Does anyone think the parents should be required to sign some sort of consent or approval form prior to their child participating?  I plan to provide the toothbrushes and toothpaste myself; they will be donated by my local college's dental program.

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    Tawanda Brown
    Family Child Care Provider
    Crestview FL
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  • 9.  RE: Toothbrushing in Preschool

    Posted 09-26-2018 05:20 PM

    We are a university laboratory school program that models appropriate practices for our students. That means we help children wash their hands, brush their teeth, etc. We have tooth brush racks (from Lakeshore) hung out of the children's reach, and children brush after lunch each day. It is part of our routine and no one thinks it a burden or out of the ordinary.

     

    Carol Hagen, Ed.D., Director

    Child Development Laboratory

    Faculty, Teacher Education and Administration

    College of Education

    University of North Texas

    1155 Union Circle, #320740

    Denton, TX 76203

     

    Carol.hagen@unt.edu