The Obligatory Dental Hygiene Moment

It’s a good time of year to be the tooth fairy. All that laffy taffy pulling out teeth and fillings, all that candy creating new weaknesses for cavities. Since the candy apples began being harvested in September it’s been a boom year for our fairy friend. Unfortunately, all this running around is more than one fairy can take and so she has teamed up with the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation.  Instead of reaping the rewards of tooth decay, she’s promoting the longevity of those healthy smiles, giving herself time to work. According to the NCOHF and the a spokesperson from the TF, America’s Toothfairy was founded to address the growing epidemic of pediatric dental disease in this country by “supporting vital preventive, restorative, and educational oral health services for at-risk children through a national Affiliate network of community-based oral health clinics and outreach programs”. You can set up a virtual fundraising page to help support their efforts.

If you want to do something more hands-on to help, there are lots of ways you can help keep down the effects of candy at this time of year. My mother-in-law has been a dental assistant for over 20 years now, and you can usually find a basket of new toothbrushes next to the candy on her stoop every October 31st. Whenever we send boxes out for Operation Christmas Child we try and include toothbrushes and dental floss, along with the good stuff. Locally, one of our elementary schools is collecting unwanted Halloween candy to send to troops in Afghanistan, not to feed them but to give them something for their pockets as they patrol, to help them earn the trust of the local children. There is certainly bound to be a similar initiative in your community, just ask at your local elementary school or dentist.

And remember the best thing you can do for your kids’ dental hygiene is be a role model. Don’t hide your flossing and brushing. Teach by example — it’s much more effective.