Dental students give Hartford school children healthy smiles

Hundreds of Hartford school children have learned the importance of oral hygiene, thanks to students at the School of Dental Medicine.

The dental students, members of the American Student Dental Association, visited second- and third-graders in six of Hartford’s public schools last week.

“We’re teaching the kids how important it is to take care of their teeth every day,” says third-year dental student Lauren Adair.

“Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood, and too many kids don’t get the treatment they need. Hopefully we can help these kids get on the right track.”

The dental students went to the Noah Webster MicroSociety Magnet School, Breakthrough Magnet School, Dr. James H. Naylor Elementary School, West Middle School, Mary M. Hooker Environmental Studies Magnet School, and M.D. Fox Elementary School.

They visited 28 classrooms in all, teaching the children how to brush and floss properly, how important it is to see a dentist twice a year, and the proper diet to avoid tooth decay.

They also handed out toothpaste and toothbrushes to each child.

“Tooth decay is a preventable disease,” says Tim Levine, a third-year dental student.

“Children that learn how to brush and take care of their teeth now are that much less likely to have cavities and are more likely to take care of their teeth for the rest of their life.”