Attack Plaque

Does anyone ever really remember their Dental Hygienist coming to their classroom to talk about teeth and good oral hygiene? The kids won't remember my name. They'll remember me as the lady that carries around a big toothbrush. Seriously! I have to show them how to brush with my big teeth and big toothbrush.


This morning I taught a couple classes at WSR School. They said, "gooooood moooooooorning Miss Beeeeeeev!" I tell them a silly story about the Three Friends teeth and quiz them afterwards. If they get a question right I reward them with stickers. The kids go CRAZY over Sponge Bob stickers! Geez. I had to calm them down a couple of times.








Then I ask for 4 brave volunteers and have them chew on pink tablets to disclose their plaque in their mouth. They are so cute!








They always get a kick out of that! Hey don't laugh! If I gave you a pink disclosing tablet your teeth might look like that too!

"Good Morning Miss Bev"

Feb. is National Children's Dental Month and the SDA Dental Clinic is offering free dental exams for children valued at $70. Part of my job out here is to teach good oral hygiene and caries preventiion at the local elementary schools twice a month. Yesterday the other registered dental hygienist on island, Lori, and I taught two third grade classes at Garapan Elementary School. Marconi came and made a report about our visit to the classrooms. You can read more about it in the Saipan Tribune News today here.

I have to admit that up until yesterday I only liked teaching adults. Thus that is why I have been teaching the elderly at the Manamko House for the past month. But after my experience yesterday, I have had a change of heart about teaching kids. I guess there is just something about 25 kids enthusiatically saying "good morning Miss Bev" that lifts my spirit=)

We started off our presentations with a short story about the importance of teeth. Lori is a great story teller by the way. After the story we had a question and answer session. You'd be amazed what kids would do for stickers. During the presentations we had two volunteers come up and gave them some red tablets to chew. After chewing the red tablets we had them smile and show their classmates what plaque looks like. It was funny to see the kids reactions all in sync saying, "ewwww, gross!"

I worried about classroom management, kids glazing over of boredom . . . but after yesterday I realized its just all about having fun.