Dentists Visit BCFS Education Services Head Start Classrooms
to Teach Children: “Beware Mouth Monsters”
BCFS Education Services Hosts Activities for National Children’s Dental Health Month
In observance of National Children’s Dental Health Month, BCFS Education Services partnered with several dentists and dental professionals across the Texas counties where the organization operates Head Start classrooms to teach students the importance of proper dental care.
The dental health month events included fun, interactive games, hands-on demonstrations, and coloring activities for hundreds of 3- and 4-year olds over several weeks. Head Start students at Atascosa, Karnes and Wilson counties even received free, individual dental exams.
Karnes City Head Start kicked off Dental Health Month activities early on January 29 when Agave Dental visited to teach the schoolchildren about tooth brushing, flossing, and how to avoid tooth decay. At a parent meeting in January, Dental Quest staff visited with Head Start parents from Bee, Goliad, Live Oak and Refugio Head Start and brought toothbrushes and dental health information.
Atascosa, Karnes and Wilson County Head Start welcomed Dr. Rebecca Gabriel to their classrooms on February 8 to discuss dental care with Head Start students, teachers and parents. Community partner Agave Dental visited Kenedy Elementary School on February 16.
On February 16, Head Start in Guadalupe and Comal Counties held the Beware of Mouth Monsters event. Community Partners Children’s Dental Ark visited to discuss “mouth monsters” and how to keep a “monster-free mouth” with games, healthy snacks and a dental gift bag.
“Head Start’s goal is to provide our students and families with education to support their healthy development, intellectually and physically,” said BCFS Education Services Executive Director Cathi Cohen. “Kids in Head Start brush their teeth in class every day, and our special events throughout the month reinforce to them and their parents the importance of dental care.”
To close out the month, Agave Dental will visit Floresville South and Floresville North Elementary Schools on February 23 and February 25, respectively, and Southern Smiles Dental of Poteet will visit Poteet Elementary on February 25.
In Karnes City, local dentist Dr. Robert Fletcher will visit on February 28.
Guadalupe and Comal Counties Head Start have planned an activity for Dental Health Month during the monthly Parent Committee meeting in New Braunfels, and in Seguin, Alligator Dental will present a skit about dental care and hand out toothbrushes.
Stonewall Head Start will welcome two local dental hygienists to each of its classrooms to demonstrate good dental health habits and techniques.
Head Start is a national program promoting school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children by providing educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families. For fifty years, Head Start has propelled children from disadvantaged backgrounds toward success. The program provides a strong foundation for students that is built on academic achievement and healthy living.
For more information about BCFS Education Services, please visit DiscoverBCFS.net/HeadStart.
