SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOGMobile Dentistry and Head Start (OHS) Children’s Dental Hygiene
Humans have used various forms of dental care for centuries. It was known that cleaning teeth and tongue contributes to good oral health. Dentifrice is a French word for toothpaste. Dentifrice agents have been used in paste, powder, gel or liquid form to maintain oral hygiene globally.
Many South Asian and African countries have used “Dataan” twigs made from the neem tree for cleaning teeth for centuries. The pencil size twigs (sticks) can be chewed at one end to soften it to use it like a tooth brush. It cleans teeth with the liquid that comes out of the twig and toothpaste is not necessary. Twigs are also medicinal providing dental hygiene and curing a variety of ills. Dental experts agree that the “Dataan” seems to clean teeth well and some up-market health stores in the USA have been selling chew-stick as a natural ecological form of dental care.
The office of Head Start (OHS) is a United States of America federally funded comprehensive child development program for income eligible children and their families. The OHS protocol is to insure an on-going source of accessible dental and health care for children. To comply with the OHS requirement, Mobile Dental Clinics may be the only feasible source to reach children in the remote locations.
Health care issues need attention at birth. One can argue that health of a new born depends on the mother’s health. Neonate exhibit the following reflex actions.
- Hold a baby so her feet are resting on a flat surface, she should make mimic walking movements.
- Dropping her into waiting hands, she will throw her arms outwards.
- Touch her cheeks or lips and this will prompt her to turn her head and open her mouth.
- Babies are attracted to the red color.
- Babies cry to make parents satisfy all their needs.
The Dental and Medical health for infants should start in the first year to insure their ability to learn and become healthy & successful adults.
The U.S Department of Health and Human Services has an office of Head Start (OHS) which deals with good oral health for neonates, infants, toddlers, and pre-school children so that when they grow up will have good oral and medical health. Children’s overall health determines their behavior, speech, language, and growth development. The protocol OHS follows should be a guide for all the parents across the country with children.
Here is a list of selected and simple oral health requirements for early childhood development and good health.
-For infants, cover a finger with a soft cloth or gauze and wipe gums daily.
-For children between one and two years of age once daily, after a meal brush the child’s teeth with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
-These simple steps can form good habits for parents and children.
How does a nation protect the underserved areas or poverished children? Medicare in conjunction with the office of Head Start (OHS) requires that Head Start staff or a volunteer work with the children to provide them with oral education and help with brushing gums and teeth. The program protocol further requires long term follow up to insure that these children continue to receive dental and medical services from fixed clinics. But if there is a shortage of dentists and physicians then the dental assistants or hygienists should be available to perform the service.
OHS also requires use of Mobile Dental Clinic as necessary to perform the services until a fixed permanent dental and medical clinic is available.
The fundamental dental care as simple as brushing children’s teeth and infants gums with fluoride can be the first step to help them grow up to be healthy adults.
Head Start health services focus is on prevention and early intervention and are based on the promise that a child must be healthy in order to be ready to learn. Good oral health for infants, toddlers, and pre-school children means when they grow up they will have good oral health and medical health. Children’s overall health determines their behavior, speech, language and growth development.
Equally important is the sustained program to insure the development of dental education and dental service for these children and their support groups like parents, teachers, volunteers, and providers. Children with obvious dental and medical issues should be able to secure the necessary long run help to maintain an acceptable level of health for their future success.
OHS is a federally funded comprehensive child development program for income eligible children and their families. But the system and protocols can be adapted by the communities with support from parents, dental/medical professionals and volunteers. This economical program can be adapted by the global community.
Children and families are to be linked to an on-going source of continuous, accessible health care including dental. This source can be either a fixed clinic or mobile coach. In some circumstances Mobile Dental Clinics may be the only feasible source to reach children in the remote locations.
Contact us at kbconsultants1958@gmail.com or 586-917-0245 for quotations & proposals for Mobile Dental Coaches and Trailers. Rentals available.
