Healty Smiles, Health Families - Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Contents
1. Y a Y e report on observations and explain Vv Vv Vv i need for other services if necessary i discuss future dental plan v e answer any other questions Y Your hygienist will e reinforce the 2 2 2 Rule l e give your child a new soft toothbrush v v v i toothpaste and or dental floss e direct you to the area to make your child s next appointment In the business area of the office you will e pay for dental services or complete necessary insurance forms Y v Y e make next appointment and receive a written reminder A Family Dental Health Contract guidance your child will develop One of the most positive joys in life is seeing a child with a bright healthy smile Healthy smiles can be maintained for life With your Child Date 12 good oral health habits and keep bright healthy smiles Enter into this contract with your child to emphasize the importance of taking care of oral health We Can Count on Each Other Our Denta Hea Contract As your parent caregiver h promise to e Teach you how to brush for two minutes two times a day and floss after each brushing e Practice good oral health and be a dental health role model for you e Provide you with healthy snacks e Tell you about the dangers of tobacco use oral piercings and putting metal decorations in the mouth e Buy you a new soft bristle toothbrush every three months e Take you to the dentist two times a year once e2. A page from the American Dental Association s Web e 5 site that discusses flossing It includes illustrations to help users improve their flossing technique 5 www cda org public cch5fs html From the California Dental Association Online A recent article on why chewing tobacco is bad for your teeth American Academy of Pediatrics Pediatric Nutrition Handbook second edition Elk Grove Ill American Academy of Pediatrics 1985 American Dental Association Intervention Fluoride Supplementation Journal of American Dental Association supplement June 1995 126 19 20 Anspaugh D and Ezell G Teaching Today s Health seventh edition New York Pearson Benjamin Cummings 2004 Boys amp Girls Clubs of America Cavity Free Zone A Program for Improving Club Members Oral Health Atlanta Boys amp Girls Clubs of America 2002 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Preventing Tobacco Use among Young People A Report of the Surgeon General Atlanta Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1994 Floyd P A Mimms S E and Yelding C Personal Health Perspectives and Lifestyles third edition New York Thomson Wadsworth 2003 Meeks P Heit P and amp Page R Comprehensive School Health Totally Awesome Strategies for Teaching Health third edition New York McGraw Hill Higher Education 2003 Telljohann S Symons C W and Pateman B Health Education Elementary and Mid
3. He spent his time doing other things Ask your child to answer these questions based on the story correct answers appear in italics e How often should Wil brush his teeth two times a day e How long should Wil brush his teeth two minutes each time e How many times a year should Wil go to the dentist two times a year e Why did Federico and Leon have healthier teeth than Wil They practiced the 2 2 2 Rule e What could Wil do to have healthier teeth like Federico and Leon He could practice the 2 2 2 Rule Talk with your child about good oral health habits and help him or her understand why such habits are beneficial At this age your child should be able to e use good oral health habits without being reminded for example using seatbelts helmets and mouth guards e improve his or her brushing skills and be able to floss without assistance e be consistent in following the 2 2 2 Rule e choose healthy snacks when not being supervised know which foods are good and bad for teeth e firmly refuse can say for example No I m not into that when friends experiment with tobacco e talk directly with dental professionals during her or his office visits and e understand the role function and importance of professional dental care Activity for Parents and Children The Jenkins Family Visits the Dentist Read the following story with your child then talk with her or him
4. about what you read to reinforce your child s learning Use the suggested activities below or make up some of your own The Jenkins Family Visits the Dentist Mrs Jenkins is the mother of 10 year old twins Kenettra and Ken Mrs Jenkins took the twins to the dentist for their yearly examination Since their last exam was six months ago it was time for X rays When Dr Linton reviewed the film he had good news and bad news for the twins Can you guess who got the bad news based on the following clues Kenettra brushed her teeth and her tongue and flossed in the morning and before going to bed She rinsed her mouth with water after she drank red punch When she and Ken did their homework she snacked on apple slices Ken usually followed Dr Linton s advice for about two weeks after seeing him Then Ken s old habits returned Just like his sister he brushed his teeth in the morning for two minutes but he only flossed his front teeth Ken never rinsed his mouth after drinking a soda he did not like red punch ate caramel candy while doing his homework and did not brush at bedtime unless Kenettra told their mother on him Dr Linton gave Kenettra the good news that her preventive dental practices had paid off Of course she had some plaque a mixture of bacteria and mucus between the side teeth it s harder to floss there but her front teeth were clean as a whistle Her gums were tight around her teeth and didn t bl
5. health so it s important for you to decay rot has set in If the dentist know where you can go to get them finds a cavity early he or she can fix the dental care they need it and stop the rot by removing the decayed part of the tooth and putting in a filling Abscess When pus collects in or around an infected tooth or in the surrounding bone Many working families with children face the added challenge of not having health insurance coverage through Extraction When the dentist has to their employers Such families struggle do surgery to pull out a rotten tooth to get their children the preventive dental and medical care they need but Gingivitis Inflammation of gum there is help Every state in the nation tissue the gums may be sore has a health insurance program for swollen and bleed easily infants children and teens from low income working families This insurance is available to families with different types of immigration status The State Children s Health Insurance Program SCHIP is a federally Plaque a sticky whitish build up of sponsored program that provides bacteria and their waste products on health insurance free or at low cost to the teeth that can cause cavities and low income families gingivitis if not removed with brushing and flossing when it becomes calcified and hardened it is called tartar and can only be removed by a dental hygienist Malocclusion When the upper and lower
6. his stomach He did not try it again Park said that his father reminded him every week about the health problems that chewing tobacco can cause such as stained teeth irritated gums dependence on nicotine and leukoplakia Leukoplakia is when the gums and soft tissue in the mouth change to a white color a warning sign that unhealthy changes are occurring in the mouth Talk with your teen about how this story made each of you feel Ask your child these questions correct answers appear in italics e Why did the coach think that his baseball players might want to try to use spit tobacco Because they might be influenced by college and professional baseball players with that habit e Why do Duane s gums bleed when he brushes his teeth They are irritated by the chemicals in the chewing tobacco e What is this oral health problem called gingivitis e Should Duane have told his mother about the problem with his gums as soon as he noticed it Why or why not Yes so she could take him to a dentist before his mouth problems got worse e Is it important that Duane tell his mother now Yes so she can take him to the dentist for treatment Duane may have other unhealthy changes in his mouth that he can t see 19 Discourage your children from doing any of the following e using their teeth to open packages and bottle tops using toothpicks to remove food from between their teeth e chewing on straws and toothpicks e putting je
7. Child Help your child learn and practice the following healthy oral habits e Brush after eating or drinking anything If brushing is not possible then rinse the mouth with water to remove foods and sugars stuck to the teeth Brush and floss in the morning and before going to bed Brushing at bedtime is important because it removes sugars and plaque that will cause teeth and gum problems while your child is sleeping Place a calendar in the bathroom and have your child mark the times of daily tooth brushing Mark the calendar to show when it s time to visit the dentist and replace your child s toothbrush every two to three months 4 Other Team Members Dental Professionals You and your child should think of the dentist and his or her staff as members of your oral health team If you and your child do not follow the rules of the oral health game consistently and dental health problems develop the dentist and dental hygienist may not be able to save the play Between those visits every six months these dental professionals depend on you and your child to practice the skills needed to maintain good oral health The Cheerleaders Boys amp Girls Club Staff and Volunteers The staff and volunteers at your local Boys amp Girls Club also want to help improve your children s oral health Through BGCA s partnership with Crest Boys amp Girls Clubs can be a resource to your family by providing dental he
8. Healthy Smiles Healthy Families An Oral Health Guide for Parents Important Guidelines for Photocopying Limited permission is granted free of charge to Boys amp Girls Club staff members to reproduce pages of this guide for use by parents of Boys amp Girls Club members Under no circumstances is it permissible to sell or distribute on a commercial basis multiple copies of material reproduced from this publication Copyright 2004 Boys amp Girls Clubs of America All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America Except as expressly provided above no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical including photocopying recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission of the publisher Table of Contents A Letter to Parents 5 ani warenttee s b eni dad eam eae ne nnan nenw di 3 Your Children s Oral Health Team 2 2 2 0 000 ees 4 The Coach The Parent or Caregiver 0 c ccc ccc cence nee nee nee e nee n eens 4 Team Member No 1 Your Child 0 000 ccc ccc cee naunan nanena aaaea 4 Other Team Members Dental Professionals 00 00 ccc c eee e eee eee eee n een aes 4 The Cheerleaders Boys amp Girls Club Staff and Volunteers 0 0 ccc cece eee ences 4 The Boosters Community Helpers 0 0 0 c ccc cece eee eee e nee n teen een e eens 4 Oral Health Basi
9. alth education oral health products and increased access to dental professionals When your children are at the Boys amp Girls Club they take part in fun Cavity Free Zone sessions that teach them how to care for their teeth The Boosters Community Helpers Your children s oral health team also needs boosters for support community organizations and individuals that care about children s oral health and general well being These may include state public health organizations social service agencies dental societies businesses schools or churches These boosters can give core team members assistance services and encouragement SIGNS OF GOOD ORAL HEALTH You know that your oral health plan is working for your children when e Their gums are tight around their teeth e Their gums don t bleed when they brush e They brush their tongue to help prevent bad breath e They protect their teeth and heads by wearing mouth guards during rough play helmets and protective gear when riding a bicycle or skating and buckling up when in the car e They remind you to take them to the dentist two times a year and consistently come up cavity free at their visits What s so important about teeth e Teeth play a very important role in digestion They grind food so that saliva can begin digesting the food in the mouth e Teeth play an important role in speech They help your children pronounce words more cl
10. althy and foods that harm teeth e how to protect teeth from injury such as buckling up in the car wearing a helmet when biking skating or on a scooter and using a mouth guard when playing contact sports Activity for Parents and Children Friends in the Village of Teeth Read the following story with your child then talk with her or him about what you read to reinforce your child s learning Use the list of questions below or make up some of your own Friends in the Village of Teeth Once upon a time three close friends Federico Leon and Wil lived in the Village of Teeth They played video games sang songs and read books together Federico and Leon brushed their teeth with fluoride toothpaste two times a day for two minutes at a time They visited the dentist and the dental hygienist two times a year Federico and Leon were very responsible about taking care of their teeth They made good decisions that helped their teeth and gums stay healthy They believed that their teeth were important for their health now and when they grew up too Their friend Wil brushed his teeth only once a day for one minute at a time He had to go to the dentist because he had a cavity Another time he had to go to the dentist because he didn t use a mouth guard and hurt his mouth playing ball with Federico and Leon Wil did not do they things Federico and Leon did to keep their teeth healthy Wil didn t think his teeth were that important
11. ce the tongue or lips e Avoid putting gold silver or platinum tooth caps on teeth as a fashion statement Parent Checklist Improving your Family s Oral Health Use this Parent Checklist to help keep up with your tooth care job and the tooth care jobs of your children Cut it out and put it up near where you and your family brush and floss your teeth is ite pilates mptegl a Healthy Smiles Healthy Families Parent Checklist Health Care Patterns Every Day Cavity Free Zone program at the T Are all family members brushing and Boys amp Girls Club flossing according to the first and second 2s in the 2 2 2 Rule Once a Month LJ Are you checking out your children s 11 Do all family members brush brushing and flossing practices and after eating something or drinking reinforcing the first and second 2s in a sugary drink If they aren t able the 2 2 2 Rule to brush right away do they at least rinse their mouth out with Once Every Six Months some water C1 Are you and your children visiting the dentist for an exam and teeth Once a Week cleaning with X rays once a year LJ Do you talk with your children according to the third 2 in the about what they are learning in the 2 2 2 Rule 8 ask questions and tell about your child s gener Encourage your child to the dentist directly will be enthusias the dentist if t enthusiastic tc ex
12. cs 0 000 s iinr EErEE EEE rrr 7 A Family Oral Health Plan 0 0 ccc cece nce erence an ERE ER EETA NERE 7 Parent Checklist Improving your Children s Oral Health 0 ccc cece cece eee eens 8 Visiting the Dentist A Chart for Check Ups 0 ccc cece ccc een e een e nent nes 10 A Family Dental Health Contract 0 0 ccc ccc teen ene nen teen nee nees 12 Dental Health Dos What Children Should Know and Do 13 Activity for Parents and Children Ages 6 to 9 Friends in the Village of Teeth 14 Activity for Parents and Children Ages 10 to 12 The Jenkins Family Visits the Dentist 16 Activity for Parents and Children Ages 13 to 15 Chewing your Way to Gum Disease 18 Dental Health Don ts What Children Should Avoid 00000505 20 Studs and Duds Don t Put a Hole in your Smile ccc ccc cece eee eee e ees 20 SMe Wat Out aeea aae a a areca a cost a gar a A a a ead adie ata ae aT 20 Healthy Eating Healthy Teeth A Note about Good Nutrition 21 Some Common Dental Problems Defined 00c cece wees 22 Getting Dental Care cc eee eee 22 CHOOSING a DENtISt 2x ciccsaws wrsentes ER ieee atek Hine ae woe Late eae eae Wee eaeA weee R 24 ReESOUNCES otc 4 ath hd eee ee a and oa aan ae 25 Bibliography aisiixe ce aeiece nd ers ka anata Gin we SE wR OE aAa Back FYI By the Numbers T
13. dle School Applications third edition New York McGraw Hill 2003 Trnanoff N Dental Caries Risk Assessment and Prevention Dental Clinics of North America 39 4 709 719 U S Department of Health and Human Services Oral Health in America A Report of the Surgeon General Washington D C U S Government Printing Office 2000 U S Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2010 Understanding and Improving Health Washington D C U S Government Printing Office 2000 BOYS amp GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA National Headquarters Boys amp Girls Clubs of America 1230 W Peachtree St NW Atlanta GA 30309 3447 www bgca org 2004 Boys amp Girls Clubs of America 713 04
14. early e Healthy clean teeth improve personal appearance and boost confidence Good oral health habits help your children have healthy teeth and gums and contribute to overall good health Poor oral health by contrast can contribute to chronic health problems including heart disease and diabetes The most common dental problem in children ages 6 to 15 years is cavities tooth decay When cavities are not treated your children e can lose teeth e get infections in the pulp of the tooth and surrounding bone called an abscess e suffer unnecessary pain and even e have to make costly emergency room visits or be hospitalized What is the best way to keep your children s teeth healthy Encourage everyone in the family to follow an oral health plan faithfully and consistently It s simple and it works e Use the 2 2 2 Rule Brush at least two 2 times a day with fluoride toothpaste for two 2 minutes each time and visit the dentist two 2 times per year e Show your children how to floss their teeth Floss their teeth until they are old enough to floss by themselves Do it daily e Buy a new soft bristle toothbrush for each family member every three months e Limit snacks that are sugary and starchy especially those that are sticky and gooey e Protect teeth from injury by using a mouth guard during rough play and wearing a seatbelt when in the car e Do not use tobacco in any form e Do not pier
15. eed It took the dental hygienist Miss Kathy about 15 minutes to clean Kenettra s teeth Dr Linton gave Ken a good report too Dr Linton told Ken that it was good that his mother had brought him to the dentist Ken needed to see what had happened to his teeth and gums since the last visit Dr Linton had Ken chew on a special red tablet that showed that Ken had plaque on his front teeth and tartar plaque that has hardened between the side teeth Ken s gums were a bit spongy and bled when Miss Kathy cleaned his teeth Ken s X rays showed that a cavity had formed between two of Ken s upper bicuspids side teeth on the right side of his mouth Dr Linton encouraged Ken by telling him that he could remove the tooth decay and fill the cavity He again showed Ken how to brush and floss Dr Linton told Ken that when he flossed he removed the candy and food particles between his teeth which helps keep cavities from forming there Dr Linton encouraged Ken to eat more apples and other healthy snacks like his sister Kenettra did and avoid the sticky candy Ask your child to answer these questions based on the story correct answers appear in italics e What are Ken s oral health problems has plaque and tartar build up on his teeth gums are not as healthy as they should be has a cavity between two teeth e Ask your child to make a chart with three vertical up down columns e In the first column ask your child to write one st
16. following information will help you work with your children Your children should know and be able to demonstrate these practices to enhance their oral health Help your children learn to make positive choices and avoid things that put their good health at risk The Centers for Disease Control and THE 411 FROM D J FANG TOOTH e Wear platinum and gold jewelry not teeth caps Who wants bad breath and tooth decay Don t share a toothbrush That s a great way to spread germs Use a new soft bristle toothbrush every three months Do the math that s four per year Know how to make emergency toothpaste Mix two teaspoons of baking soda and a little water in your hand and brush your teeth with it Remember this doesn t have fluoride in it and that s why you use it for emergencies only Don t use a piece of thread for dental floss Dental floss is made to slide between your teeth it won t cut your gums like a piece of thread will Buy bottled water with fluoride it s better for your teeth 13 14 Ages 6 to 9 Knowletige and A Oral Hygiene Habits to Practice and Reinforce Talk with your child about e the importance of general health and oral health e the parts of the mouth and how they work e the types and function of teeth for example incisors are for cutting or tearing food not for opening packages e the 2 2 2 Rule and the right way to brush and floss e foods that help make teeth he
17. h safe by using seatbelts in cars and wearing helmets mouth guards and other protective gear when doing recreational or sports activities e identify and talk about different dental specialties and dental careers and make smart choices about risky behaviors such as tobacco use and oral piercing Activity for Parents and Youth Chewing your Way to Gum Disease Read and discuss the following story with your teen Use the suggested activities following the story or feel free to make up your own Chewing your Way to Gum Disease Park and Duane are best buddies They have known each other since third grade Now they go to B amp G High School and are on the baseball team The coach has asked the team not to chew tobacco The coach invited a dentist to show a video to the team and answer the players questions about the dangers of using spit tobacco Duane however wanted to be like the baseball players he saw on his brother s college team So he started chewing tobacco anyway Now Duane has noticed that when he brushes his teeth every morning his gums bleed Duane does not tell his mother about his gums Another two weeks go by and he is still seeing blood on his toothbrush One day after baseball practice Duane tells his buddy Park about his gums Coach warned us Duane said but didn t think this would happen to me Park told Duane that he tried once to use spit tobacco It had made him dizzy and upset
18. n protect their teeth throughout their lives When we eat sugary and starchy foods acids form that damage teeth Chewy and sticky sweets even raisins are more damaging still They stick on and between the teeth longer than sweets that can be chewed quickly and swallowed Eating healthy foods and snacks protect the teeth from plaque forming cavities and gum diseases Foods that are most healthy for your children s teeth and gums e raw vegetables carrots broccoli celery salads e fresh raw fruits e milk cheese plain yogurt e whole grain crackers and breads e whole grain cereal and rice e eggs meat nuts sunflower seeds pizza Foods that are not good for the teeth especially when eaten every day e potato snacks chips crisps e sodas soft drinks pops fruit flavored drinks e pudding e ice cream e cake pie cookies lemons lemon juice makes weak spots in the tooth enamel e chocolate candies sticky candies hard candies sour balls e sticky chewy sugary foods marshmallows e raisins e grapefruit juice Don t forget Your children are counting on you to provide them with tooth healthy meals and snacks Some Common Dental Getting Dental Care Problems Refined As your children s parent and dental health team coach you want to provide for them and make sure that they grow up strong and healthy You want them to have good general and Cavity A hole in a tooth where oral
19. ntal emergency tooth knocked out broken tooth filling falls out does the dentist give emergency care How would make contact in such a situation e Does the dentist see patients early in the morning 6 30 or 7 00 a m at night 7 00 p m and on Saturdays or weekends Resources Books Going to the Dentist Helen Frost Gail Saunders Smith Pebble Books 1999 Audience Younger members Know Why I Brush My Teeth Sam s Science Kate Rowan Katharine McEwen Illustrator Candlewick Press 1999 Audience Younger members Open Wide Tooth School Inside Laurie Keller Henry Holt and Company May 2000 Audience Younger members Those Icky Sticky Smelly Cavity Causing But Invisible Germs Julie Stricklin Gryphon House August 1997 Audience Younger members Tooth Decay and Cavities My Health Alvin Silverstein Virginia Silverstein Laura Silverstein Nunn Franklin Watts Inc March 2000 Audience Older members Healthy Teeth A User s Manual Everything You Need to Know to Find a Good Dentist amp Take Proper Care of Your Teeth Marvin S Schissel John E Dodes Griffin Trade Paperback February 1999 Audience Older members E Web Resources l Bi Get online with your children and check out some of Bi these dental health Web sites www crestkids com e a A Web site for kids and parents that provides tips on creating healthy dental habits for life http www ada org public topics cleaning asp
20. ook to find the telephone numbers of the state dental society for example Georgia Dental Association Such organizations can give you names and numbers of dentists who are in your neighborhood or ones that you can reach easily by car taxi or public transportation Call your local county or city public health department you can find the telephone number in the local government section the blue section of your telephone directory Ask for the Department of Public Health Dentistry This office will tell you about the services it offers and how you can access them 24 e Let your children impress you with the skills they have learned at the Boys amp Girls Club You and your children can use a computer with Internet access at your local public library or the Club for free Locate the Web page of the American Dental Association ADA http www ada org The site has useful information for you your children and your children s teachers The ADA can give you the names and telephone numbers of dentists in your area who are members of the association Making the First Contact Remember You are a health advocate for your children When you call for a dental appointment ask these questions e Does the dentist treat children ages 6 15 years Some dentists do not treat young children e What type of dental insurance does the dentist take May pay my bill in installments e If someone in my family has a de
21. ooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease It is five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever e More than 50 percent of children ages 5 to 9 have at least one cavity or filling That number increases to 78 percent among 17 year olds More than 51 million school hours are lost each year because of dental related illnesses Source Oral Health in America A Report of the Surgeon General Washington D C U S Department of Health and Human Services 2000 A Letter to Parents Dear Parents Caregivers Welcome to Healthy Smiles Healthy Families An Oral Health Guide for Parents brought to you by Boys amp Girls Clubs of America BGCA and Crest BGCA and Crest have joined forces to help children across the nation have healthy teeth and gums for a lifetime We ve developed a program called Cavity Free Zone to teach Boys amp Girls Clubs members how to take care of their oral health But we know we can t achieve our healthy smiles goals without the help and support of one other crucial partner You Here are the principles that guide our oral health efforts e Every child deserves a healthy beautiful smile that will last for life e Healthy teeth and gums play a critical role in children s overall health e All children should receive good dental care regardless of their family circumstances We ve created this guide especially for you because we know
22. ory clue about Ken s oral health habits doesn t brush for two minutes two times a day doesn t floss enough eats sticky candy e In the middle column ask your child to write down one of Ken s dental problems has plaque and tartar build up on his teeth gums are not as healthy as they should be has a cavity between two teeth e In the last column ask your child to write what Ken or the dental professionals can G do to solve Ken s dental problem Ken can follow the 2 2 2 Rule floss FYI What to Do if better and eat healthier snacks your Child Knocks Out a Miss Kathy can clean his teeth Permanent Tooth twice a year Dr Linton can fill h 1 Remain calm Ken s cavity 2 Put the tooth back in the socket immediately if you can 3 Place the tooth in milk if you can t put the tooth back in the socket place the tooth in water if you don t have any milk 4 Take the child to the dentist immediately 17 Continue encouraging your child to maintain good oral health habits At this age your child should be able to e describe how having good oral health habits has affected her or his overall quality of life e encourage friends and siblings to improve or adopt good personal and oral health habits e brush and floss correctly and effectively e initiate his or her own regular visits to dental care professionals and discuss additional services she or he might need e keep her or his teet
23. plain to your chi happen at the dentist What to Expect re One In the dentist s waiting room e Greeting by receptionist Vv Vv Vv e Sign in e Answer questions about insurance y gt SCHIP Medicaid or payment e Answer questions about number of v dental visits your child has had e Complete general health history and Z dental health history questionnaire e Greeting by dental hygienist J z e Move to treatment area of office First Visit Y In the treatment area your dental hygienist will e Review general and dental Y Y health history e Ask reason for visit current symptoms concerns e Prepare for mouth X rays a P e Take X rays of teeth Y e Clean and polish teeth with dental scalers and cleaning brushes 2 p e Make notes in dental chart e Answer any questions e Review and instruct how to brush v Y g Y and floss if needed FYI Get Savvy about Dental Sealants Even if your children regularly use a fluoride toothpaste the dentist may want to coat your children s permanent teeth with a fluoride solution or gel that will protect the chewing surfaces First Visit At Six At One Months Year Your dentist will e greet you and your child review general and dental health history and Y v current status answer questions review dental hygienist s report look at X rays v e check mouth teeth gums and practice te
24. teeth do not line up and do not close properly this can damage tissues in the mouth 22 To find online information about your state s SCHIP program visit the Web site of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services CMS at http www cms hhs gov schip consumers_default asp Under the category SCHIP State Programs find your state by using the pull down menu provided The state pages vary in the amount and types of information they provide but most include contact information for the state s health insurance program as well as applications details of coverage and other useful material for consumers By phone If you have specific questions about health insurance for your children you can contact your state directly For a list of state specific telephone contact numbers go to http cms hhs gov schip statemap asp and click on your state map Now let s talk about selecting a dentist If you haven t already you will want to select a dentist that you and your children will like and trust over time so it s worth making a careful choice Rather than just selecting a dentist from the telephone book be resourceful and ask people you know in the community for referrals This could include neighbors friends other parents or relatives as well as professionals like your primary physician or social services workers Here are few suggestions to get you started e Use the white pages of the telephone b
25. very six months e Take part in at least two Boys amp Girls Club activities with you As your child promise to e Brush my teeth for two minutes and floss twice a day e Help you use the Internet so you can enroll me in the State Children s Health Insurance Program SCHIP e Choose healthy snacks at school and home e Use protective equipment to keep my head and teeth safe seatbelts helmets and mouth guards e Avoid doing unhealthy things like using tobacco getting oral piercings and putting metal decorations in my mouth Parent Caregiver Date Dental Health Dos Prevention CDC have identified the six most common risky behaviors What Children Should among school age children Three of these risky behaviors actions that Know and Do contribute to unintentional and intentional injury tobacco use and diets that contribute to oral decay can damage your children s mouth teeth gums and overall health The oral health knowledge skills and habits that you teach your children are being reinforced at the Boys amp Girls Club with the Cavity Free Zone program Ask your children You can help improve your about their activities at the Club Let children s oral health skills and build them know that you re excited about their confidence Let them see you what they are learning and the skills practice the 2 2 2 Rule Talk about they are building your family s oral health plan The
26. welry through the tongue or lips piercing with a ring or stud e applying metal gold silver or platinum caps or decorations to their teeth e using spit tobacco chewing tobacco or snuff While some of these actions are quite common they put your children s oral health at definite risk STUDS AND DUDS DON T PUT A HOLE IN YOUR SMILE Putting a hole in the tongue or the lips oral piercing to insert a ring or stud may be the it thing to do but it s also a threat to your oral health The risks include e pain swelling and infection because of large amounts of bacteria in the mouth e transmission of germs that cause diseases such as hepatitis and tetanus e bleeding a long time if blood vessels are pierced e may cause choking if the tongue swells or a loose piece of the jewelry is inhaled e can cause bad breath e loss of taste and feeling in the tongue e problems with speech chewing and swallowing e can get in the way of a proper exam by the dentist SPIT THAT OUT The chemicals in chewing tobacco put you at risk for e bleeding swollen spongy gums gingivitis e stained teeth e tooth loss e mouth calluses e cancer of the mouth and jaw 20 Healthy Eating Healthy Teeth A Note about Good Nutrition Giving your children healthy foods is one of the ways that you protect them from tooth cavities and gum disease The healthful nutrition habits that you begin as a parent or caregiver will help your childre
27. you believe in these principles too The guide provides basic practical oral health information It also features activities you can do with your children to encourage them to develop good oral health habits that will last for life We hope the guide will help you to e better understand the importance of oral health to your children s general health e reinforce the healthy habits your children are learning in the Cavity Free Zone program at their Boys amp Girls Club e speak up for better dental care for your family and others in your community and e prevent dental health problems in children ages 6 to 15 So are you ready Join our efforts to have healthy smiles and healthy families across the country Your Children s Oral Health Team When it comes to oral health the African proverb It takes a village to raise a child is true It takes a whole team of people to keep your children s teeth and gums healthy Let s take a look at who needs to be on this oral health team The Coach The Parent or Caregiver You are your children s first dental instructor and the team coach You should lead your children by example Promote healthy smiles by showing your children how to brush and floss between their teeth Observe them and correct their brushing and flossing technique as needed Let your children observe you brushing and flossing your teeth They will enjoy following your lead Team Member No 1 Your
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