Chapel School Students “Join the Super Smile Team!"

Bronxville, NY- On Friday February 7th 2014, students at The Chapel School were invited to “Join the Super Smile Team!” The American Dental Association established February as National Children's Dental Health Month over 50 years ago to help encourage good oral health habits at a young age. To motivate students and increase awareness of proper dental care, The Chapel School invited, Ms. Joanne Roos, to meet with students. Ms. Roos, is a registered dental hygienist who works at Main Street Pediatric Dentistry in Tuckahoe, NY.   “We want to let parents know they can come visit and get acquainted with our dentist and facility, to see if we are a good fit, before having any work done.” The child-friendly facility is decorated with fish and statues to look like you are underwater. “We are a pediatric dentist and want them to have a fun experience.”  

Students in kindergarten through second grade learned about proper brushing, flossing and eating habits. They sang the “Brush Your Teeth” song while practicing their brushing technique, on a few cute puppets with pearly whites.  Ms. Roos also discussed “wiggly teeth,” and why the students should not be worried to lose their baby teeth.  “They fall out,” replied one student. “My brother has two grown up teeth now,” said another. At the end of the presentation, each child received a gift bag that included toothpaste, a toothbrush, and dental floss.

“Many people are under the assumption that oral hygiene is not something that really needs to be worried about in young kids.” Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. The American Dental Association (ADA) says that cavities in baby teeth can cause a number of problems, including tooth loss, ear and speech problems, crooked permanent teeth, severe pain, poor self-image, and tooth decay.

 “Every year we invite the hygienist, we want the students to be comfortable and not afraid of the dentist,” said Therese Domanick, school nurse at The Chapel School. “The children always enjoy brushing the puppet’s teeth and leave excited about dental health.” The Chapel School regularly invites professionals from the local community to visit its students and educate them. These presentations are exciting for the students, and can be further connected to school curriculum and projects.

The Chapel School is located at172 White Plains Road in Bronxville, New York. The next open house for The Chapel School is February 14th.  For more information about the Chapel School and its programs, please call 914-337-3202 or visit the website at www.thechapelschool.org