25,000th brushing lesson Keep your mouth healthy!

26-10-2016

On Tuesday 25 October, dental hygienist Lisette van der Harst gave the 25,000th brushing lesson Keep your mouth healthy! The students of groups 3 of primary school KBs de Rainbow in Woerden were the lucky ones. The children of teachers Marieke van der Plasse, Sandra Groenendijk and Miranda van der Meer received a special lesson about oral care. The children hung on to the mouth of the dental hygienist, who taught them about the mouth and teeth, brushing teeth, cavities and the seven eating and drinking moments in a light-hearted way.

Healthy teeth at a young age are decisive for the future
The educational project 'Keep your mouth healthy!' was initiated and developed by the Ivoren Cross, the Dutch Association for Oral Health. Those who have healthy teeth at a young age often keep them that way. You have and keep your teeth healthy by brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and not eating and drinking more than seven times a day. Lisette van der Harst: “I am proud that I was able to teach 25,000th lesson on behalf of our profession. It is fantastic that I was able to make a positive contribution to the attention to oral health of children and their parents.”

Project successful thanks to voluntary dental care provider
Mariëlle Nap, project leader Keep your mouth healthy!, is proud that 750,000 children have already been taught knowledge about the mouth and teeth and have received an unforgettable brushing experience. Just as many parents have been informed about the importance of brushing their teeth properly. “I know that children will talk about a cleaning lesson for a long time! Such a white coat in class really makes an impression and that experience also comes home.” We could only achieve this success thanks to the enthusiastic efforts of thousands of volunteer dentists, dental hygienists, (prevention) assistants, students and GGD employees. And our partner elmex who made many thousands of toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste available.”

Reducing caries and dental erosion
The aim of the teaching project is to promote a healthy mouth by reducing caries (cavities) and tooth erosion and to stimulate dental visits. The Ivoren Cross also wants to create awareness among children of preschools and primary schools of their own influence on (oral) health. Children who learn the right attitude, knowledge and skills to take good care of their teeth and mouth are also more skilled in prevention and self-care in avoiding more serious preventable diseases.

Bad children's teeth
The deteriorating situation of children's teeth in our country was the reason for developing the project in 2009. It was found that 25% of the children in the Netherlands do not brush their teeth or brush them badly. The 2013 Oral Care Report of the Healthcare Insurance Board (CVZ) also shows that 41% of 5-year-old children have cavities in their deciduous teeth. 25% of the 5-year-olds from the low SES group has more than 7 eating and drinking times a day and many children do not visit the dentist or go to the dentist too late. Parents can take their children to the dental care practice before they are two years old. Many parents do not know that a visit to the dentist or dental hygienist is included in the basic insurance and is therefore free for children up to the age of 18. More information about the educational project can be found at www.houjemondgezond.nl.