Children’s Regional Oral Health Program

Our Regional Oral Health Program gives children something to smile about. Since 1987, the New Jersey Department of Health has provided funds to SJFMC’s Children’s Oral Health Program, which provides oral health and hygiene education to school-age children in the southern counties of the state.
Regional Children’s Oral Health Program activities include:
“Save Our Smiles” School-Based Fluoride Mouth Rinse Program: A voluntary, weekly fluoride mouth rinse program funded by the New Jersey Department of Health. School Oral Health Education Programs: Dental hygienist staff provide oral health education to students in grades pre-K through 12 on a variety of topics, including, but not limited to: oral hygiene, the use of fluoride to prevent decay, sealants, healthy food choices, gum disease, prevention of oral injuries, the complications of oral piercing and oral cancer awareness and prevention.
  • Project BRUSH is an oral health education program designed specifically for students in grades K – 1.
  • Seal in a Smile is an oral health awareness campaign for second- and third-grade students in select high-risk schools throughout New Jersey that promotes good oral health practices with a special emphasis on the benefits of dental sealants.
  • Sugar-Less Day to Prevent Tooth Decay is an interactive learning event that targets fourth- and fifth- grade students during March, National Nutrition Month, to emphasize the importance of healthy food choices and oral health.
  • Protect Your Smile, geared toward middle school students, addresses the importance of wearing a mouthguard during contact and non-contact sports to prevent injury to the mouth and teeth.
  • So, You Think It’s Safe to Vape is a new program that emphasizes the harmful effects of tobacco use and vaping in the oral cavity.  It is geared toward middle and high school students, for whom vaping has reached epidemic proportions. Student participants in this program receive a toothbrush, floss and flyer with information on the risks associated with vaping.
  • Miles of Smiles is the annual oral health newsletter for school nurses.
  • Franny Flossisaurus and Mr. Gross Mouth Oral Health Teaching Kits are available for loan to schools.
 
Collaborative Efforts:
Project REACH (Reducing Early Childhood Caries through Access and Health Education):  Improves the oral health of expectant women and their children at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) through an interdisciplinary approach of obstetrical providers. Women receive oral health education and a referral for dental health services during obstetrical office visits. Project PEDs (Pediatricians Preventing Early Dental Diseases): Reduces the incidence of early childhood caries through education and training of an interdisciplinary pediatric staff to promote the importance of oral health, hygiene and access to dental care for parents, caregivers and children who are served by the Pediatric Departments at FQHCs. To schedule an oral health program in your school, please contact SJFMC’s Regional Oral Health Program at 856.935.6203.