If your child goes to daycare in Massachusetts, you may need to start pack something extra in their backpack…
A new law will make it mandatory for your daycare provider to help children brush their teeth after a meal. For children who are in daycare for at least 4 hours a day, tooth brushing will become part of their daily routine.
The driving force behind the new regulations from the Department of Early Education and Care is improving oral hygiene. Dentists are embracing these new regulations, as 1 out of 4 children have tooth decay, and up to 50% do not get treated.
Some parents are concerned about the spread of germs. To address this concern, only the teacher/provider is allowed to hand out a toothbrush and dispense toothpaste to each child, and each toothbrush is stored in a separate holder and case.
If you decide this is not what you want, your child may be excused as long as you provide a note.
Talk to your daycare provider and found out whether they are using fluoridated or non-fluoridated toothpaste. If using a fluoridated toothpaste, they must use only a pea sized amount for children who are able to spit it out. If your child is too young to spit out properly, talk to your provider about providing a non-fluoridated toothpaste.
I am greatly in favor of this new law, and am hoping that other states will follow suit.
Thank you for reading. I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. To learn more about my practice, click on www.elitesacramentodentist.com
Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
Feb. 25, 2010
Source: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/health/22266008/detail.html