Dental screenings museum

BALTIMORE, Maryland--Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease, according to the U.S. Surgeon General's Office.

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To raise awareness of the importance of learning good oral care, the National Museum of Dentistry and the University of Maryland Baltimore Dental School invited more than 60 Baltimore City schoolchildren to receive free dental screenings and learn how to take care of their teeth at the National Museum of Dentistry on Feb. 4, 2011.

Kicking off National Children's Health Month, the event was part of Give Kids A Smile, a nationwide program initiated by the American Dental Association to help children gain access to dental care.

Children received a free dental screening to identify dental disease and a fluoride sealant to help prevent cavities. The children also discovered how to have a healthy mouth for life through the museum's MouthPower oral health education program, a hands-on exploration of how to brush and floss, how to eat healthy, and how to avoid the dangers of tobacco.

The program began with a historic welcome from George Washington (his infamous dentures are on view at the museum)--who led the children in a pledge to take care of their teeth--followed by screenings in the lobby and a hands-on oral health education program led by University of Maryland dental students in the museum's galleries.

"Give Kids A Smile is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of good oral health, something that the National Museum of Dentistry strives to do every day," said Museum Executive Director Jonathan Landers. "We are excited that our signature oral health education program, MouthPower, is a centerpiece for this event, giving children the tools they need to take care of their teeth for a lifetime."

Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Children from low-income families suffer twice as many cavities as their more affluent peers, and their disease is more likely to go untreated. Dental disease is preventable with brushing, flossing, regular dental visits, and having access to fluoride and sealants.

Transportation for the Give Kids A Smile event was provided by the Maryland State Dental Association.

For more information, call (410) 706-0600 or visit www.smile-experience.org.

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