Oral Health Education Program Teachers Guide for Grades 2-3
For children ages 3-4
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Welcome
Dear Teacher,
Welcome to Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures! You are now part of a 21-year legacy that brings positive oral health messages to children across the world — in classrooms just like yours.
A Global Partnership
Each year, Colgate-Palmolive Company’s award-winning Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® (BSBF) global oral health education program reaches over 50 million school children and their families … in 30 languages and 80 countries. It’s teachers like you who have made this self-esteem-based program an international success!
Colgate recognizes that fostering partnerships between governments, health and educational organizations, professional associations, and health care providers strengthens the impact of the BSBF initiative around the world. The BSBF program was developed with an International Advisory Board of educational, dental and multicultural experts, and tested with children and teachers in real classrooms. Together with classroom educators like you, it’s a true partnership in support of children’s health!
BSBF: Empowerment for the Future
Bright Smiles, Bright Futures gives teachers, children and families around the world the tools they need to make good oral health a permanent part of their lives. With the focus on prevention, the program builds self-esteem and teaches good oral health practices to create lifelong habits. And most importantly, BSBF inspires kids to take control of their own oral health. Its messages of empowerment enable children to not only understand “what” to do to take care of their teeth and gums, but the “why” behind the messages. In this way, BSBF equips them to become lifelong Tooth Defenders.
Welcome to BSBF. We applaud your commitment to helping your students’ bright smiles last a lifetime.
Marsha Butler, DDS
BSBF Global Oral Health Initiative
Colgate-Palmolive CompanyThank You to Our Advisor
Alice M. Horowitz, PhD
School of Public Health
University of Maryland, USAColleen Winney
Education Program Consultant Scientific Affairs
Colgate-Palmolive Company AustraliaLisa Papagiannoulis
Professor and Head Department of Paediatric Dentistry
Dental School, University of Athens Greece
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About the Program
Since 1991, Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures (BSBF) has made it easy for teachers like you to integrate oral health in your classroom. Now, the newest program in the BSBF series wraps the tried-and-true appeal of superheroes and special powers into a program that is sure to excite your students!
This engaging, activity-based program fits into your existing curriculum, so you don’t need to add a new unit to your busy day. Its standards-based approach helps make it easy to cover core learning objectives, and it’s also flexible, so you can adapt it to your own classroom needs. And best of all, your students will love it!
The multimedia components feature Dr. Rabbit and Dr. Brushwell — two cartoon dentists who have mentored a group of children to become Tooth Defender “superheroes.” Together, the team undertakes a mission to protect Tooth City from the sticky, sugary villain: Placulus!
The easy-to-use materials were developed with teachers and oral health experts from around the world. In addition to fitting into your curriculum, the developmentally appropriate components are designed to challenge children to take responsibility for their own oral health.
Family involvement is an important part of the BSBF methodology. You’ll find ideas for getting parents and other family members involved with the topic of oral health included throughout the guide.
Now, take a look at the materials – then invite your students to team up with Dr. Rabbit and the Tooth Defenders and become superheroes in protecting their own bright smiles!
Components At-a-Glance
Teacher’s Guide with Classroom Activities
Tooth Defenders: How It All Began
Be a Tooth Defender! How to Brush Poster
Meet the Tooth Defenders
Bright Smiles Key Messages
Brush with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, especially after eating breakfast and before bedtime
Floss daily
Use fluoride rinse
Limit the number of times you eat sweet and sticky snacks
Visit the dentist regularly
Oral health is an important part of overall health
Prepare the Lesson Key:
Time required for activity
Supplies Needed
Pre-lesson to-dos
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Fostering Family Involvement
Good oral health is an integral part of a child’s overall health.
Remind parents and caregivers that by modeling proper tooth brushing and encouraging children to take care of their teeth at home, they are helping their child develop healthy habits they can practice forever!
Bright Smiles, Bright Futures is most successful when educators, dental professionals and families work together to promote positive and lasting oral health habits starting at a young age.
Parents play a key role in their child’s oral health. As you take your students on the journey toward becoming tooth defenders, you are in an ideal position to foster at-home involvement for your students and their families!
The Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures integrated program gives you the information, materials and ideas to foster family involvement and extend the lessons you’re covering in class.
Utilize the Home Connections tips sprinkled throughout this guide. They offer easy ideas for sending oral health messages home and promoting family engagement.
The Family Take-home gives parents the oral health nuts-and-bolts they need to easily integrate oral health strategies into their daily family routines. Distribute the take-home as a program kickoff, at an inclass event, or to wrap up the unit.
The 28-Day Oral Health Tracking Chart is a great at-home reminder that defending teeth is something to be done every day. Have additional copies available for those families who want to continue tracking beyond the 4-week period. Remind parents that if a child has a dental checkup scheduled during the tracking period, the child can take it along to the dental appointment to share – perhaps the dental professional can even autograph the chart!
The Tooth Defenders’ Pledge/ Certificate starts as an in-class activity … and concludes with a meaningful reminder that children will be proud to take home and share! Encourage parents to post it at home as a reminder of the importance of good oral health habits for everyone!
Encourage parents to join Bright Smiles, Bright Futures on Facebook! www.facebook.com/colgate
Remember: you are ensuring that children’s smiles can last a lifetime!
HOME CONNECTIONS
TIPS
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Printouts
