It’s a special morning at Drake University’s Head Start program and the kids are (almost) all smiles about it. EveryStep I-Smile Dental Hygienist Tanya Heringer is visiting today to teach the kids about taking care of their teeth, checkup on their dental health, and provide them with fluoride treatment.
Tanya is visiting two classrooms today – ages 3 and 4. The first group is just finishing its morning snack when Tanya walks in. The kids grab their toothbrushes and Tanya and Head Start staff walk them through properly brushing all of their teeth.
Next, it’s time for their screenings. The kids line up and Tanya takes ‘patients’ one at a time, checking their teeth and gums for to look for issues and assess their development. Each screening wraps up with a fluoride treatment for the child. In less than an hour, Tanya has completed more than a dozen exams and hopefully set the kids on the right path to a lifetime of good dental health.
The I-Smile Program provides oral health screenings, oral health education, nutrition education relating to oral health, fluoride varnish application and a referral to a dentist for comprehensive dental needs. The program serves children under the age of 21 and pregnant women. The program is run by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services in coordination with EveryStep in the metro area.
Tanya visits daycare centers, WIC clinics, and more to meet with kids.
The program hopes to create more future brighter smiles by getting kids more interested in dental health at a young age. It is recommended that children visit the dentist by the age of one and continue visiting twice a year. These early visits help children get used to the dentist’s office setting and can ease anxiety about having someone working in and around their mouth.
Tanya has a secret weapon for kids who are worried about letting her near their teeth. Tanya brings along a special friend – a plush gorilla puppet with a huge toothy smile. Tanya lets the kids explore the puppet’s mouth and brush its teeth to show them that they have nothing to fear.
I-Smile also educates children (and their parents) about the everyday things they need to do to keep their teeth their strongest:
• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Floss every day to reach places your toothbrush can’t
• Choose tooth-friendly snacks like crunchy fruits and veggies
• Choose water over sugary drinks to protect your teeth all day
• Visit your dentist every six months
• If your child has a tooth, brush with toothpaste
