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15th Medical Group provides oral hygiene tips for National Children's Dental Health Month

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Aaron Oelrich
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
2/19/2015 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  The 15th Medical Group's dental clinic reached out to local preschool and elementary schools Feb. 19 to educate the keiki on National Children's Dental Health Month.

This year the 15th Aerospace Medicine Squadron will visit four elementary schools and two child development centers on JBPHH to deliver toothbrushes and instruct to more than 1,200 local youth on oral hygiene.

"It is important to get kids started at an early age," said Staff Sgt. Britney Jones, 15th Aerospace Medicine Squadron's non-commissioned officer in charge of preventive dentistry. "It is good for kids to know to brush their teeth for two minutes twice a day and floss their teeth once a day."  

Jones, along with Capt. Evan Masunaga, the 15th Aerospace Medicine Squadron's officer in charge of oral surgery, delivered their message of oral hygiene through activities with oversized teeth and  toothbrushes,  along with gift bags containing two-minute teeth brushing timers, a toothbrush and sugar free lollipops.

"We try to make it fun for the kids," said Jones.

In addition to educating the children, Jones hopes that they will talk to their parents and pass on their message of good oral hygiene to the older generation.

During these visits with the children, Masunaga said he discovered that the majority of the children where practicing oral hygiene by themselves. 

"It is recommended that parents should assist their children with brushing and flossing up to age nine because the children lack the finger dexterity to do complete and thorough cleaning of their teeth," said Masunaga.

Getting the kids involved and exposed to proper dental hygiene at a young age is important Jones said.

"It's about instilling healthier choices because healthy choices become heathy habits," said Masunaga.