In observance of National Dental Hygiene Month this October, the Saipan Seventh-day Adventist Clinic has begun conducting oral health presentations in local schools to raise awareness about the importance of dental care.
Dental hygienist Lori Serna visited three classrooms of second and third graders at Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School in San Roque last Tuesday, sharing with 60 children 7 to 9 years old the importance of caring for teeth.
Serna said the students also learned how to brush and floss properly and were advised to eat healthy food and avoid those with high sugar content to protect their teeth.
“All the classes enjoyed the presentations as well as the free stickers and toothbrushes donated by the SDA Dental Clinic,” she added.
Dental Hygiene Month observance focuses on increasing public awareness about the importance of preventive services to keep or maintain good oral health and hygiene. This year's theme is “Keep them healthy. Keep them clean.”
“Dental decay is a disease that is highly contagious and can lead to the premature loss of teeth as well as decrease the quality of your daily activities. If you have a toothache, you really can't function at your full capacity. You can't sleep, you can't eat, you can't concentrate at school or work. So during October, we want to bring the importance of prevention to the forefront,” Serna explained.
SDA representatives will also visit later this month Sister Remedios School to talk to pre-school and elementary students.
Besides school presentations, Serna said they will also get the message out to the public through newspaper articles and the billboard located at the Toyota Microl intersection.
During the monthlong celebration, SDA will be offering free dental exams and screenings to the community.
“They can come in and sit and talk to a dentist regarding any questions that they might have about their teeth,” she said.
To make an appointment or for more information, call 234-6323.
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