Dyer lives in Sharpsburg and has a daughter in first grade at the school. She said she offered to give the presentations at the school because the Washington County Health Department doesn't have a registered dental hygienist who can make school presentations.
To make the program fun for students, Dyer demonstrated how to floss by using a jump rope to "floss" between the students, who were stand-ins for teeth.
Several students were selected to hold paper forms representing teeth while Dyer sprayed green silly string for plaque. She then showed them the small circular motions they should use when brushing their teeth.
Since dental visits can sometimes be scary for children, Dyer had a student dress up as a dental hygienist in a face mask and gloves. Some of the tools that are used during a routine visit to the dentist were discussed, giving them names such as the "tickly toothbrush" and "Mr. Thirsty."
Students were asked to give a thumbs up or thumbs down to which foods are healthy for teeth. Foods like fruits, vegetables, popcorn and pretzels got thumbs up, while candy, cookies and cake got thumbs down.
Dyer held up an empty Mountain Dew bottle containing 16 teaspoons of sugar, the equivalent of the amount of sugar the soda bottle would have contained had it been filled with soda, to remind students that soda is loaded with sugar and bad for teeth.
Diet soda, although it doesn't contain sugar, is also harmful to teeth, because of the acid it contains, Dyer said.
The importance of fluoride for dental health, the parts of a tooth and losing baby teeth also were discussed. Students received goodie bags containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, flossers and dental health information.
"Do you floss your teeth every day?" asked kindergarten student Maggie Curtis.
Dyer said she brushes twice a day and flosses daily for her own dental health, and to be a good role model for her daughters.
