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GES students taught how to care for their teeth
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Posted on Feb 06 2014
As part of its celebration of Children’s Dental Health Month this February, the Seventh Day Adventist Dental Clinic held its first oral health presentation yesterday at Garapan Elementary School for about 120 second grade students.
Lori I. Serna, a registered dental hygienist at the SDA Dental Clinic, gave the children hands-on presentations such as story-telling to share information about teeth and why they should take care of their teeth. Serna also talked about nutrition and why they should stay away from sugar and limit it to meal times.
The students were also given free stickers, worksheets, and toothbrushes as well as a chance for free dental exams at the SDA Dental Clinic this whole month of February.
Serna told Saipan Tribune yesterday that it’s hard for children to do well in school without proper dental care. “The earlier they start the better,” she said.
Serna pointed out that 40 to 60 percent of school age children in the U.S. mainland usually have of cavities.
“We can stop that and decrease that number by increasing the awareness of both children and adults on how to take care of their teeth,” Serna said.
This is why they focus on second and third grade students as a whole because it’s at an age where they’re still eager to learn and don’t have bad habits, Serna added.
SDA will continue its presentations next week at Koblerville Elementary School. The week after that will be at Tanapag Elementary School and then back to GES for 3rd grade students.
For more information and appointments, call the SDA Dental Clinic at 234-6323. Its office hours are from Monday through Thursday, from 7am to 6pm, and on Friday, from 7am to 1pm. [B][I](Jayson Camacho)
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