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Schoolkids get the Smile Factor
19th May 2011
A dental practice in Yorkshire spread the message of good oral health by hosting an educational event at Walkington Primary School yesterday (18 May).
A team from Perfect 32, a NHS and private dental practice in Beverley – including a dentist, hygienist and dental nurse – started the fun-filled educational afternoon with a presentation for more than 100 children.
The team joined children in their classrooms to host educational workshops, teaching them about good oral health, brushing instruction using disclosing tablets and an oversized set of teeth, and running a competition for the child with the best smile.
They also handed out National Smile Month goodies such as singing toothbrushes, toothpaste, erasers, bookmarks, balloons, stickers and frisbees.
The national campaign is focusing on putting the smile back on peoples' faces and helping them display their personalities with the ‘Smile Factor' campaign – the theme for this year's National Smile Month.
In keeping with this theme, the children were encouraged to blow up clinical gloves and decorate them as Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole.
The children also dressed up as dentists in masks and goggles and tried out their skills brushing the oversized teeth.
Perfect 32's practice manager, Nicki Rowland, said she and her team had thoroughly enjoyed working with the children and helping to alleviate inherent fears of the dentist.
'We were delighted to get involved in National Smile Month and our educational event got everyone smiling. We hope the children had a great time learning about good oral hygiene and how it can have a direct impact on their general well-being. The Smile Factor theme really appealed with the popularity of The X Factor. Children's oral health can directly influence their ability to learn.
'According to research, oral health problems can lead to pain, absence from and inability to concentrate at school, failure to thrive and reduced self-esteem. The dental team emphasised the “brush, floss, rinse, chew” method which is easy to remember and encourages children to develop a good routine of dental care. The brushing instruction using disclosing tablets was very messy but great fun!'
For more information on National Smile Month, visit www.smilemonth.org.
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