AnonyMouse_51737 Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 Hi All As of September we are embarking on a new health project for our area, part of this includes teeth brushing! We have spoke many times about introducing it but it's always just been on our to do list, but now it's time to get it going!! We only operate for 2 full days which incorporate the lunch club facility the other days are part days, pre school lunch time is busy it has to be such a quick turnaround that it can be hectic for the adults I need to add, the children can take as little or as long as needed. We know tooth brushing should happen 30 mins after eating and for how long etc, My question to those who already do this; How do you clean, store, label your brushes? We are pack away setting so limited to possibilities x
AnonyMouse_13453 Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 I used a company called 'The Brush Bus' who have brushes and storage for them. I used a dymo label maker to put names on, but you could use a small permanent marker, just as easily. I used to soak the brushes after use in Milton for half an hour or so, and rinse them under the tap before use.
AnonyMouse_9650 Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 We are a packaway setting and children brush their teeth after lunch. We ask parents to sign a toothbrushing permission as part of their admissions contract and ask parents to supply a suitable child's toothbrush labelled with their child's name at the beginning of each half term period. We provide the toothpaste. Like Cait ours are sterilised after toothbrushing and rinsed off. We then store them brush up in cutlery type caddies to air dry and cover them with a clean cloth at the end of the day when we have packed away. We have a label maker to put on labels for those who "forget" to label their children's brushes or replace labels that come off. It can sometimes be a bit of a rush to get all those gnashers cleaned and initially children had to wait around to go out to the sinks. We have now adopted a bit more of a laid back approach after lunch and we use the caddies to break up the numbers of children going off to clean their teeth into smaller groups who go out to the sinks with a member of staff. Children don't have to sit around waiting after lunch - they go back to play and the small groups are taken out within a loose 30 minute timeframe after lunch. Once they get into the swing of it they don't mind that their play is interrupted to go off to clean their teeth.
AnonyMouse_12960 Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 Excuse me for being a bit stupid here, but why are children brushing their teeth after lunch? I never asked my children to brush their teeth after liunch as my denstist said twice a day is quite sufficient....has guidance changed? 1
AnonyMouse_13453 Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 (edited) I started doing it as many of the children were from homes who didn't brush teeth regularly, if at all, even once a day. The number of dental caries in our area is historically very high, and children often have fillings very young indeed. I have known several who have had front baby teeth removed before their third birthday. I wanted to try to get children used to it, so that perhaps they could do it at home too. The Smile4life initiative in the last few years seems to endorse this. There was another initiative, Toothfriendly, started up by a dentist a decade ago, using a crocodile as a toy to show children how to brush. Children all came to the washroom in a group after lunch and I gave them all their prepared toothbrush and took them one at a time to 'finish off'. Every now and then I would do mine too, so that they saw method, in case they didn't see it at home. Edited July 7, 2015 by Cait 1
AnonyMouse_9650 Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 We started after the children were checked in the setting as part of a dental health pilot and 5 had early tooth decay!!!
AnonyMouse_12960 Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 OMG am so shocked! Ours all have beautiful pearly whites!!
AnonyMouse_5970 Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 Yes, same here. We started doing it with the Stop the Rot campaign. We have slackened off recently as we found it difficult to manage in that busy post-lunch period, but you've inspired me to get going again!
AnonyMouse_13453 Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 Yes, same here. We started doing it with the Stop the Rot campaign. We have slackened off recently as we found it difficult to manage in that busy post-lunch period, but you've inspired me to get going again! Stop the Rot! That's what it was called! We had to sign a Toothfriendly declaration when we registered! 1
Guest Posted July 8, 2015 Posted July 8, 2015 We've been told at a local safeguarding update that we need to keep a signed record of any help we give with teeth cleaning as part of our intimate care policy. Luckily we only have a couple of children whose parents have specifically asked for teeth to be cleaned after lunch! It would be horrendous to have to record it for every child.
AnonyMouse_19762 Posted July 8, 2015 Posted July 8, 2015 We've been told at a local safeguarding update that we need to keep a signed record of any help we give with teeth cleaning as part of our intimate care policy. Give me strength......
AnonyMouse_9650 Posted July 8, 2015 Posted July 8, 2015 Give me strength...... What for to write up all the records or help clean the teeth Seriously a signed record!!!! 1
AnonyMouse_51737 Posted July 8, 2015 Author Posted July 8, 2015 Thank you for all the replies your a good bunch! We too have children with extreme dental issues and if we brush after dinner that's probably one more than 0 for that day. The scheme is not just about teeth brushing but is a part of it. It's about teaching both children and parents about good hygiene and health practices I'm quite looking forward to implementing it - sad I know As for a written log I appreciate where they may be coming from but they can narnas as that isn't going to be recorded, could you imagine recording everyone we help a child with something it's ludicrous.bet that went down like a led balloon at your briefing lol
AnonyMouse_13453 Posted July 8, 2015 Posted July 8, 2015 My record would be ' all the children who stayed to lunch today had their teeth brushed'
Guest Posted July 9, 2015 Posted July 9, 2015 It's come about due to a couple of recent local safeguarding cases where settings were unable to provide evidence/records regarding intimate care procedures/staff involved. So they are recommending we record any clothes change/help in bathroom as well as nappy/pull up changes, applying eczema cream etc etc etc. Will need another person just to fill in extra paperwork at this rate! And then we have to store all the records............
AnonyMouse_19762 Posted July 9, 2015 Posted July 9, 2015 It's come about due to a couple of recent local safeguarding cases where settings were unable to provide evidence/records regarding intimate care procedures/staff involved. So they are recommending we record any clothes change/help in bathroom as well as nappy/pull up changes, applying eczema cream etc etc etc. Will need another person just to fill in extra paperwork at this rate! And then we have to store all the records............ Sorry grumpymum - my 'give me strength' wasn't directed at you - it was directed at the madness.......... 1
Guest Posted July 10, 2015 Posted July 10, 2015 That's ok, sunnyday - just seems to be demands for more and more paperwork. But we are being advised to do it for our own protection, so will see how it all goes down at our next staff meeting.
AnonyMouse_23964 Posted July 10, 2015 Posted July 10, 2015 I just said no to teeth cleaning. We just have so many other battles to fight to help improve children's outcomes, we can't do it all.
AnonyMouse_12960 Posted July 11, 2015 Posted July 11, 2015 It's come about due to a couple of recent local safeguarding cases where settings were unable to provide evidence/records regarding intimate care procedures/staff involved. So they are recommending we record any clothes change/help in bathroom as well as nappy/pull up changes, applying eczema cream etc etc etc. Will need another person just to fill in extra paperwork at this rate! And then we have to store all the records............ Dearie me, I'm going to just pretend I've not read this. If we recorded every change of clothes, toilet visit, we would never have time for anything else!
AnonyMouse_51737 Posted September 13, 2015 Author Posted September 13, 2015 Just an update we have been on training and have been provided with toothbrushes and holder from the independent NHS worker who organises this in our area, all I can say really to sum it up is Oh My God!!! I knew level of tooth decay in our area was bad but Jesus the stats are for our area bad!! Also learning more about the sugars and how it effects the teeth including timings was an eye opener, but the biggest thing we learnt (there was two whole settings on this session) was we all do not brush our teeth correctly!! We was all mortified needless to say we all now do! And within two days I had past this on to a number of parents as well as tieing it in to our sugar drink display.... Parent sessions, tooth brushing and the eduction we have all taken on has been great! So just wanted to let you all know that it's all going well and I really feel I'm making a difference even before we start tooth brushing ! If your in an area of high tooth decay please do look at what might be on offer from your local NHS as they have been amazing xxxx happy brushing people ? 1
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