Keeping teeth and gums healthy through interactive games

Learning about oral health can be informative and fun at the same time. The Pennsylvania Dental Association's (PDA) website features a section specifically designed for kids, and we encourage you to check it out. The Kids' Corner, www.padental.org/kidscorner, is an excellent resource for children of all ages and features the lovable Topher Tooth. It includes interactive games and activities, information on brushing and flossing, answers to frequently asked questions, nutritional information and more.

The Kids' Corner is a valuable resource not just for children, but for parents, teachers and dentists gearing up for National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM) in February.

In the Games and Activities section, children will learn how to keep their teeth and gums healthy through a variety of interactive games. Children can explore a dental laboratory, run an experiment to earn a certificate of achievement, test their knowledge of oral health facts on a game show, join Marty on a visit to the dentist and test their memory skills.

In the Brushing and Flossing section, Topher Tooth teaches children about the importance of good oral hygiene, how to correctly brush and floss their teeth and how to prevent cavities.

In the Nutrition section, Topher Tooth offers children several tips on good nutrition, such as limiting sugary snacks and beverages. Children often have questions about their oral health, such as why they need braces and how they work to straighten teeth. Topher Tooth provides children with answers to frequently asked questions in a language that is easy to understand.

PDA's website also contains additional resources for children and parents. PDA encourages you to visit the NCDHM sections for dentists, teachers and students at www.padental.org.

Are you a teacher gearing up for NCDHM this February? PDA is pleased to announce the 2014 NCDHM lesson plan is now available. Continuing from last year's modification to the program, the materials are only available electronically. You will be able to get all of the pieces of the lesson plan you've enjoyed over the years, and the colorful classroom posters are still available for you to request.

Please contact Sara Mattrick at [email protected] to request the 2014 lesson plan and educational materials which include: coloring sheets, math activities, science experiments and other fun resources.

PDA is still sponsoring its annual poster contest for third-grade students. All Pennsylvania third-grade students are eligible to participate in the contest and we are awarding cash prizes to the first, second and third place winners. Contact Sara Mattrick at [email protected] for the complete list of poster contest rules or for more information on NCDHM.