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Watson first-graders brush up on dental hygiene
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .To teach the children how to care for their teeth, Small Smiles dental assistant Stacy D’Angelo showed the children a chart of foods good for their teeth. The list included milk, vegetables, cheese, and fruit.
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D’Angelo brought a set of giant teeth- and a matching giant toothbrush- to show the students the proper way to brush their teeth. She suggested that the kids brush for two minutes, three times a day.
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After her presentation, D’Angelo (center) gave the kids free toothpaste and toothbrushes. Excited about their new gift were, from left, John Moore, Hailey Gallagher, Tyler Krusdy, and Colin Moore, Madison Christy, and Ella Sahli.
By SARAH FOOR
Once Watson students enter first grade, they are already dealing with their baby teeth falling out.
Dental assistant Stacy D’Angelo is used to taking care of tiny teeth at the Small Smiles Dental Center in Austintown. It’s kids taking care of their own teeth that has her attention.
“Most kids think that they can do whatever they want to their baby teeth because they’re just falling out. Not true!” D’Angelo said before visiting first-grade classrooms at Watson on March 29.
“We get one set of temporary teeth and one set of permanent, and they need to be taken care of. Dental hygiene is a lifelong process.”
Watson school nurse Mary Beth Stall invited D’Angelo for the discussion because of a passion for the well-being of Watson students.
“As nurse, I see how many days of school are missed because of toothaches and pains. Early dental hygiene education will definitely benefit our students in the long run,” Stall said of the program.
D’Angelo talked to all five Watson first-grade classrooms about how we use our teeth, how keeping them healthy affects whole body health and gave the students useful tips for brushing and flossing.
“Did you know that 100 diseases start in our mouths?” D’Angelo asked. After sharing that fact, the dental assistant was greeted with words like “Eww” and “gross” from the first-graders.
“When you keep your teeth clean, you’re also keeping your body healthy.”
D’Angelo brought a model of a large set of teeth. Taking out a similarly large toothbrush, she showed the students proper form and said that they should brush for two minutes, three times a day. She also showed the students how to floss, traveling around the room to show every student the process up close with the oversized teeth.
“Take care of your teeth correctly,” D’Angelo said as she wrapped up, “and you’ll have them forever.”