RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
For the youngest members of the Randolph community, reading, writing and 'rithmetic will take a temporary backseat to learning the finer points of oral health next month when representatives from the 359th Dental Squadron pay them a visit.
In observance of National Children's Dental Health Month, the healthcare professionals are planning short trips to Randolph Elementary School, the youth center and the child development center the week of Feb. 14 for some important community outreach.
"We'll relay information to students about brushing and flossing, foods and beverages associated with dental cavities, oral cancer and other aspects related to dental health," said Staff Sgt. Jennifer Swain, 359th DS NCO in charge, preventive dentistry. "We'll also show them the video 'Dudley and Dental Health.'"
The squadron will also observe Children's Dental Health Month with a poster contest open to students in two age group categories, 5-7 and 8-11. Participants will design posters around this year's theme, "Smile With Pride," and turn them in to the 359th DS by 4 p.m. Feb. 28. A prize will be given to the student in each age category who creates what judges consider the best poster.
Sergeant Swain said Children's Dental Health Month provides oral health professionals with an opportunity to "encourage parents to step up the supervision of their children's oral hygiene routine."
"It is important for your child to brush three times per day with a fluoride toothpaste and to floss each night before going to bed," she said. "This is the cornerstone to good dental health."
The presentations at Randolph will include demonstrations of the proper methods of brushing and flossing.
Another important component of dental health is good nutrition, Sergeant Swain said.
"Parents aren't aware of how it affects oral health," she said. "They should make sure their children don't bathe their teeth in sugary drinks."
Items that have a "high association with cavities" include sodas, juices if consumed frequently, candy and foods saturated in syrup, Sergeant Swain said.
These drinks and foods should be consumed with meals rather than as between-meal snacks because "saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralize acid production and rinse food particles from the mouth," according to the American Dental Association.
Sergeant Swain also said chewing gum with Xylitol is excellent for the teeth.
"We recommend using that after mealtime," she said.
The ADA says "chewing sugarless gum after eating can increase saliva flow and help wash out food and decay-producing acid."
Adherence to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food pyramid, with its emphasis on grains, vegetables, fruits, milk products and lean meat, fish, beans and nuts, helps promote dental health.
"We'll have baskets of fake food and ask the children to determine which ones are healthy and which ones are unhealthy," Sergeant Swain said.
Seeing a dentist on a regular basis is also important.
"It is very important for a child to see a dentist each year to monitor the health of teeth, gum tissue and soft tissues of the head and neck," Sergeant Swain said. "If one or both of the parents of a child have had a history of gum disease, it is important to inform the child's dentist, as there is a significant genetic component to this disease and may be passed from parent to child."
For more information on National Children's Dental Health Month activities, call the dental clinic at 652-2069 or Sergeant Swain at 652-1846.