It’s not every day that you ride a roller-coaster and witness a guest chimpanzee brushing his teeth in one assembly! On Friday, February 14, Moshiri Orthodontics gave a special presentation to our first and second-grade classes at MICDS. “First and second-grade students have learned about the human body in their Core Knowledge Language Arts units, and we thought this talk would be a nice connection,” explains Laura Pupillo, Lower School Science Teacher. “We got to learn about teeth and how dental hygiene impacts our health from a true expert, thanks to Dr. Shuka, her team, and her passionate and playful presentation.”
To kick off the morning session, Andrea Jenna, Moshiri Orthodontics Surgery and Professional Relations Coordinator, led students and their teachers through a lively warmup. With their hands in the air, the Beasley crowd followed her movements, pretending to ride a roller-coaster up and down and around. With the Beasley Studio full of laughter, Pupillo then introduced orthodontist Dr. Shuka Moshiri, DMD.
Dr. Shuka proceeded to give the students a thorough overview of their teeth and dental hygiene. She first talked about the three main functions of the mouth: talking, eating, and smiling. “With such important roles in our lives, wouldn’t it make sense to learn how to best take care of our mouths and teeth?” she asked. In her interactive presentation, Dr. Shuka explained the different parts of a tooth: the enamel, dentin, and pulp. She gave the definition of a cavity (a hole in the tooth) and explained what causes it: plaque + sugar = acid! She soon had the whole room shouting along in unison that “Acid!” causes cavities.
How can we prevent cavities, or, how do we control our plaque and sugar on our teeth? Dr. Shuka shared several ideas:
- Practice good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day and flossing once a day.
- Limit the consumption of sugary foods and drinks.
- Visit the dentist regularly, twice a year.
Dr. Shuka then had a special guest with her, Mr. Moe the Chimpanzee, who demonstrated the proper way to brush one’s teeth. With a wide and large smile, the happy chimp set the example on brushing his teeth in a circular motion, getting the front and back (and tops and bottoms) of the teeth. Dr. Shuka advised brushing twice a day for two minutes each time. Then, she recommended flossing once a day. “Brushing your teeth but not flossing is like taking a shower but only washing half of your body.” She reminded students that not flossing means they aren’t cleaning in between their teeth, which can build up plaque and sugar and form cavities.
At the end of the talk, students asked questions and were then all were sent back to their classrooms with goodie bags filled with helpful dental hygiene items. Thank you, Dr. Shuka, AJ, and Mr. Moe, for sharing your wisdom with our Beasley students so that they have strong and healthy teeth for life!