teachers to 'supervise' tooth brushing

gayleygoo

My kids are 4 and 7 and aren't good at brushing their teeth. I have to stand over them and constantly encourage them to do it properly (i.e. not just chewing the brush until you've sucked all the toothpaste off). I might get the dentist to scare them with some horrible pictures of bad teeth next time we go. To be honest we don't usually brush teeth in the morning since we're almost always rushing and the dentist told me brushing should be at least 20-30mins after eating. So teeth get brushed after school and then again at bedtime. Dentist was happy with that, as long as they're done before bedtime and at least once during the day.

My DS has been to a SureStart playgroup, then nursery, and at both of those they got free toothbrushes, their own toothpaste and they brushed their teeth while they were there. I think it was meant to be an extra brushing during the day rather than a replacement for the one they were supposed to have in the morning.

I can't see primary school teachers having time for it though, and there's going to be a lot of toothpaste drool down the uniform fronts!

notanewuser

GwylimT wrote: »

Try teaching my daughter anything after her 6:15 breakfast when her first school food break wouldn't be until 11:15 if she didn't attend breakfast club, you would soon be a huge fan!!!

My friend manages - her DD (just 4) wakes between 5am and 5:30am and pretty much eats constantly until she leaves for school at 8:45am.

My daughter (also just 4) has to be woken at 8am and is rarely that interested in breakfast. She takes extra fruit for break time as that's usually the first time she feels hungry. She eats for Wales at supper time! Breakfast club is 8:10-8:30am and seems to be used as free childcare by parents.

Still not sure why you can't just give your daughter more to eat before school.........

notanewuser

Errata wrote: »

Teaching is for teachers, healthcare is for school nurses and their assistants.
Nobody should be under the illusion that supervising teeth brushing will stop the little darlings teeth rotting to the gumline.

School nurses? No such thing anymore!

dirty_magic

I don't think there's anything wrong with teaching children brushing techniques, this was done when I was at primary in the 90s, but it's the parents' job to supervise brushing. No-one wants to take responsibility for anything now. Some parents wouldn't do anything with their children unless they're told to do it. I think this is why 5 year olds have homework now. Parents should be helping kids to learn but some just think it's the school's job so they'll only do it if they're told to.

I know a teacher and she's complained about this a few times. She had one parent come in and ask her to tell her child off because he'd been naughty the night before. A teacher's job is to teach, not discipline for behaviour out of school!

She also said some children can't even name farm animals! Teaching children animal names and noises is usually one of the first things you do with a toddler.

mummyroysof3

Would be better to ensure children see a dentist regular and invest more money to ensure there are enough availible.

GwylimT

notanewuser wrote: »

My friend manages - her DD (just 4) wakes between 5am and 5:30am and pretty much eats constantly until she leaves for school at 8:45am.

My daughter (also just 4) has to be woken at 8am and is rarely that interested in breakfast. She takes extra fruit for break time as that's usually the first time she feels hungry. She eats for Wales at supper time! Breakfast club is 8:10-8:30am and seems to be used as free childcare by parents.

Still not sure why you can't just give your daughter more to eat before school.........

My daughter would happily eat from waking at 5:30 until 8:45 but she doesn't have tha luxury as I leave the house for work at 6:30 drop her brother off at a child minders, I then drop her off at her childminder who then has to almost immediately start the runs to her own drop off schools.

I could force my daughter to eat more at 6 am, but that would be unpleasant for her and it would have knock on effects with her blood sugar throughout the day, so she has a snack/second breakfast at her before school club, or if traffic is bad when her childminder drops her off she goes straight into breakfast club.

Anita75

I think that if children do, for whatever reason, need to brush there teeth at school there is nothing wrong with making sure they are doing it properly. I tooth decay in this country among children is on the rise.
No wonder kids don't like the dentist if they keep having fillings. There are enough uncontrollable reasons to need a dentist; extra teeth, braces etc, without having to (pay and) get fillings.
If parents are working a lot, to pay the bills, and children are eating at school then making sure they brush there teeth should be on the Teachers list. Teaching isn't limited to academic subjects. As a country we need to remember that.

maman

Anita75 wrote: »

If parents are working a lot, to pay the bills, and children are eating at school then making sure they brush there teeth should be on the Teachers list. Teaching isn't limited to academic subjects. As a country we need to remember that.

So are you saying that just because parents have commitments that it's up to schools to pick up anything and everything that parents don't have time for????


I'm well aware of the social and emotional side of education but what are parents for???

Errata

maman wrote: »

So are you saying that just because parents have commitments that it's up to schools to pick up anything and everything that parents don't have time for????


I'm well aware of the social and emotional side of education but what are parents for???

Feeding their kids crap that rots their teeth apparently.

brook2jack

In my area almost 50% of children aged 5 have decayed ,rotten or missing teeth. It is the number one reason for a child needing a hospital admission.

Child decay rates are rising and it is a disgrace that an almost totally preventable disease is still causing our children so much pain.

Unfortunately the one biggest factor in this rise of decay is the one the state can have no control over, namely what we are giving our children to eat and drink.

The average person in the uk eats seven times a time. If a person eats or drinks something sugary more than three times a day they will get decay.

Honey,agave syrup,dried fruit,fruit juice are still sugar and will rot teeth as easily as plain sugar.

Dental health has little to do with how often we visit a dentist, it is helped with brushing with a fluoride toothpaste , but the biggest factor is the choices we make in choosing food and drinks for our children and the choices we make in refusing certain foods and drink. I have lost count of the number of people who say my child won't drink water.... we are designed in such a way that water is an essential nutrient, everyone will drink water but often not if a sweet alternative is offered.

NB re brushing , no child under the age of 8 has the dexterity to brush their teeth on their own. You should always have a go round , particularly the back teeth, after they have finished. 75% of adults do not brush correctly and only 28% floss. Of those that floss the majority do not use the correct technique.



I must say I am happy that childhood decay is at last being discussed and awareness of the terrible state of our childrens oral health recognised. Hopefully people will no longer see it as acceptable to leave a child of three with abcesses in their mouth, who will be the same child of fourteen needing multiple fillings , who will be the adult who has teeth taken out because they cannot make the right health choices.