Introduction

The lessons taught through the Lessons in a Lunch Box: Healthy Teeth Essentials & Facts About Snacks program focus on disease prevention. The lunch box illustrates flossing and brushing in English and Spanish. It displays the USDA nutritional food plate (MyPlate) diagram and link to ChooseMyPlate.gov for children and their families to easily access information about nutritious meal choices.

Children in grades 2 and 3 are encouraged to consider careers in dentistry. This career information is provided by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), Explore Health Careers and Dental Student Outreach Program. There is a child-friendly image of two young children playing dentist and a reflective sticker at the opening which reads, “See yourself becoming a dentist, a dental hygienist, a dental assistant or a dental technician.”

The Lessons in a Lunch Box® Program includes the Dental Care in a Carrot® case. This dental hygiene products travel case includes a universal toothbrush, a trial size tube of toothpaste (~.85 oz) and dental floss. Individually wrapped flossers specially designed for children will now be included in the Dental Care in a Carrot® case. Please see in the images below. Typodonts or tooth models can be used to demonstrate proper use of kid flossers when presenting the Lessons in a Lunch Box® Program to 2nd and 3rd grade children at elementary schools.

In Part 1 of this course oral health literacy is discussed, and Part 2 of the course goes through the steps in detail that are important to present in the Lessons in a Lunch Box program. Historical data is provided on the research that has been done confirming the need to improve the quality of lives through innovative oral health educational programs and strategies.

Dental Care in a Carrot^®

Dental Care in a Carrot^®