Reading, writing and . . . fighting cavities.
Preschool teachers would have to help kids brush their teeth under a new proposal by the city Board of Health, the agency announced Tuesday.
Preschool staffers would have to help all children over 2 years old to clean their pearly whites once a day with toothpaste and fluoride, according to a spokesman for the Board of Health.
“Tooth decay is the most common disease in childhood — and it is preventable,” Deputy Commissioner George Askew said during a public meeting Tuesday, according to Politico.
Askew added that surveys show 40 percent of children under 6 don’t brush their teeth twice a day.
The Board of Health’s proposal calls for staffers to place toothpaste onto a piece of wax paper, then scoop an amount onto a toothbrush.
Each youngster would have his or her own, labeled, child-sized soft-bristled toothbrush with fluoride toothpaste, according to the proposal.
The toothbrushes must be rinsed after use and stored in a sanitary manner.
Kids would do the actual brushing, while staffers keep track of their progress. Parents were given the option to opt out of the program, which is scheduled to be approved in June.
Some staffers at preschools in the city said the program could help children who aren’t getting the proper care in their homes.
“This could be good for children in low-income areas,” said Lisa Marino, a teacher at a Universal Pre-Kpre-K program on Staten Island. “Some of the kids come from shelters where their parents are just struggling to survive.”
The federal Head Start program implemented a similar plan in 2002. Under that program, children are encouraged to brush their teeth together as a group activity, using an egg timer to ensure they brush for 2 minutes.
The citywide program could be set in motion by the next school year, but would first face the approval of parents and teachers.
After receiving feedback from the public, the Board of Health will vote on the proposal and other items during a June meeting.
One board member, professor Lynne Richardson, expressed some doubts about the proposal, according to Politico.
“It’s been my observation that not all 2-year-olds enjoy having their teeth brushed,” she said.