For the third year in a row, Kool Smiles is providing free lesson plans and toothbrushes to children in kindergarten through fifth grade as part of National Children’s Dental Health Month. Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that more than 20 percent of children ages 2 through 19 have untreated cavities. Untreated tooth decay, which is the most common childhood disease in the United States, can lead to more serious and expensive dental problems.
Kool Smiles’ lesson plans, which promote good dental health, include activities and discussion questions that are age-appropriate. When teachers download the plans from the Kool Smiles website, they can opt to have free toothbrushes sent to their class. Polly Boehnlein, Kool Smiles managing dental director, says that dentists are passionate about teaching their patients good dental hygiene. Kool Smiles is expanding its educational efforts into schools to reach more young people with information about dental health.
