Local children get a lesson in tooth care, hygiene

Photo by Andrea Howry / Lighthouse

Jayden Al Ekong, the son of Janice and HN3 Alqadir Ekong, practices brushing his teeth during the dental hygiene presentation.

Photo by Andrea Howry / Lighthouse

Ethan Carey, left, the son of Sompathana and AWF1 Gilbert Carey of VX-30, brushes the teeth of a stuffed dinosaur as Jayden Al Ekong, the son of Janice and HN3 Alqadir Ekong, watches.

Photo by Andrea Howry / Lighthouse

Josephine Ng, the daughter of Jennifer and Joseph Ng of NAVAIR, checks with Lt. Jeremy Patelzick to make sure she’s brushing teeth correctly.

Photo by Andrea Howry / Lighthouse

The dental team’s presentation has its light moments, shown here by preschool teacher Chalee Rideaux and, front row, Ava Aguayo and Michael Ortiguero, son of Klarissa and Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Ortiguero, and, back row from left, Jason Wernau and Elisha Reyes, son of Erika and AD1 Rudy Reyes of VAW-117.

Photo by Andrea Howry / Lighthouse

Coby Beltramo, the son of Christine and Chief Construction Mechanic Christian Beltramo of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5, checks out some of the advice given to Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, preschoolers by the dental team from the base’s Naval Branch Health Clinic.

Photo by Andrea Howry / Lighthouse

Preschoolers pass around a stuffed animal that’s been covered with fake germs that glow under a black light so they can see the importance of washing their hands. From left are Giordano Hernandez-Stewart, the son of Alejandra Hernandez of the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Coby Beltramo and Michael Wernau, son of Bridget and Ken Wernau, manager of the Auto Skills Center at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme.

Photo by Andrea Howry / Lighthouse

Lt. Jeremy Patelzick, dental officer for Naval Branch Health Clinic, Port Hueneme, stresses the importance of hand-washing as Chloe Munsey, the daughter of Cynthia and Daniel Munsey of NAVAIR, discovers the “germs” on her hands after passing around a stuffed animal.

Photo by Andrea Howry / Lighthouse

Ava Aguayo, daughter of ADC Eddie Aguayo and NCC Theresa Aguayo of Naval Base Ventura County, practices washing her hands.

About 2,000 youngsters in Ventura County are learning the importance of dental health and personal hygiene thanks to the dental team at Naval Branch Health Clinic, Port Hueneme.

Following up on a project he started last year at his own child’s school in Ventura, Lt. Jeremy Patelzick, the dental officer at the clinic, is visiting several preschools and elementary schools in Ventura County. Little ones learn about germs and the best way to brush their teeth; older students are shown the damage caused by cigarettes, sugar and not wearing protective sports gear.

“It’s important that we educate children on oral hygiene and nutrition,” Patelzick said. “These are long-term lessons that we can keep reiterating.”

Patelzick visited preschoolers at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, Feb. 14, along with Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Leilani Franco DeLeon, a dental technician, and Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Floyd Jones, a dental hygienist.

Their props included a dinosaur with 32 teeth, a giant toothbrush and a stuffed animal covered with fake germs that glow under a black light. As part of each presentation, the youngsters pass around the stuffed animal, then hold their hands under the black light, seeing for themselves how germs are transmitted and learning the importance of hand-washing.

Each child also went home with a new toothbrush and toothpaste.

The presentations at the Mugu and Hueneme child development centers are reaching more than 100 youngsters. The team also visited a preschool and elementary school in Ventura and later this month will visit Laguna Vista and Hueneme elementary schools, both of which have a high number of children from lower-income families.

By the time Children’s Dental Health Month ends Feb. 28, Patelzick figures he will have met with about 2,000 children.

The dental team started the preschool presentation by asking the youngsters how many times a day they’re supposed to brush their teeth. Guesses ranged from “A lot?” to “A hundred?” The correct answer is two.

They practiced brushing the dinosaur’s teeth with a giant toothbrush — “up, down and all around” — and they learned about flossing.

“My mom’s got some of that stuff!” said one exuberant youngster, eyeing the floss.

Talk then turned to nutrition, with Patelzick holding up a magnetic board with a giant tooth drawn on it. “Bad snacks,” like soda and candy, stuck to the tooth. “Good snacks,” like apples, carrots and strawberries, didn’t.

“The Sugar Bug likes Mr. Cavity,” Patelzick told the youngsters. “And Mr. Germ can eat your teeth too.”

That brought out the “germ-covered” stuffed animal that the children passed around and the black light they held their hands under so they could see why it’s important to wash their hands.

Sharon Nash, director of the Child Development Center at Point Mugu, said the lessons learned were excellent.

“Brushing your teeth, taking care of your teeth after eating snacks, the differences between good food and bad food — all of that is important,” she said.