Albany State University Celebrates National Children’s Dental Health Month

Albany State University (ASU) dental hygiene students visited Lake Park Elementary School this week during the celebration of National Children’s Dental Hygiene Month. Ten students traveled to the school this past Tuesday to teach elementary students about the importance of dental hygiene.

“These community partnerships allow our students to provide dental health and oral hygiene instruction. It is one way the dental hygiene program at Albany State University can give back to the community who has shown us continuous support,” said Tammy Deese, Director of the Dental Hygiene Program. 

The presentation included tips such as how much toothpaste to use, brushing two times a day for two minutes and how to remove plaque build-up with floss. The children participated in an activity to help them practice brushing their teeth using mats that depicted plaque build-up in green marker. After the demonstration, the students participated in a question and answer session.

“It’s important to instill good habits at a young age in order to have healthy teeth. This was a great opportunity to teach these young students how to care for their teeth,” said second year dental hygiene student Alexis Sims.

ASU is the only HBCU in Georgia with a dental hygiene program and all clinical hours are obtained in the clinic housed on campus. 

“This program gives me an opportunity to prepare for my future career as a dental hygienist. The instructors are hands-on and have given many opportunities to hone in on our skills. I look forward to a career that gives me the opportunity to enhance someone’s life through their smile,” added Sims.

Students from the program will continue to visit the Dougherty and Lee County School Systems this month for additional presentations.