LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – February is National Children’s Oral Health Month, a time to share and promote the benefits of healthy teeth in children and families.

Implementing healthy habits early in childhood can contribute to healthy behaviors in the future.

The Lake County Health Services Department’s Oral Health Program is kicking off the month by promoting, “Tips to a Healthy Smile,” listing key points to healthy habits:

– Brushing teeth twice a day;
– Flossing daily;
– Eating healthy foods;
– Drinking water; and
– Seeing a dentist regularly all help keep a healthy smile for life.

In Lake County, about two out of five elementary school children have untreated decay, higher than the state average.

In response to this, the Oral Health Program is focusing on improving children’s oral health.

The program is implementing strategies to decrease this rate primarily through prevention and education.

During National Children’s Oral Health Month, program staff will be providing oral health education at various locations across the county.

For National Children’s Oral Health Month, the Oral Health Program will also be distributing free fluoridated toothpaste throughout the county. Using fluoridated toothpaste is one of the ways to prevent tooth decay.

In addition, the Oral Health Program has recently provided Oral Health kits – which include fluoridated toothpaste, toothbrushes and floss – to Lake County AmeriCorps for use in their state preschool health and social-emotional curriculum.

This curriculum was created through partnership between the Lake County Office of Education, First 5 Lake County and the Lake County AmeriCorps program.

This collaboration includes weekly lessons on oral health, nutrition, exercise, hygiene, safety, and kindergarten readiness, and will be continuing for the remainder of the school year.

AmeriCorps members incorporate in-home participation by sending parents/guardians informational flyers to spark conversation with their children on lessons taught in the classroom.

For more information on the Lake County Oral Health Program, please visit http://health.co.lake.ca.us/Community/OralHealth.htm or call 707-263-1090.

The County of Lake’s Oral Health Program is funded by the California Department of Public Health, under contract #17-10696.

To learn more about Lake County AmeriCorps’ commitment to education, visit www.lakecoe.org/AmeriCorps .