Kids ‘jiggle, jiggle, jiggle’ while brushing teeth
BY BETH KRAMER ekramer@stmedianetwork.com February 10, 2012 6:44PM
Vernon Hills, IL 2/8/12 Dentist Kimberly Zizic who practices in Libertyville and hygienist Emily Rosenberg, who has two sons enrolled in the YMCA's preschool program visited the Y to talk about dental health for Dental Hygiene Day, Wednesday. Dr. Zizic has all the children smile for her at the start of her presentation. | Rob Dicker~Sun-Times Media
National Children’s Dental Health Month
American Dental Association sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month in February to raise awareness about the importance of oral health.
Source: American Dental Association
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Updated: April 11, 2012 1:43AM
Going to the dentist can be fun, not scary.
That was one of the messages a Libertyville dentist and dental hygienist tried to instill in about 40 children ages 2 through 4 at a special presentation Wednesday at Central Lake YMCA in Vernon Hills.
Dr. Kimberly Zizic of Kimberly Zizic and Associates in Libertyville and Emily Rosenberg of Wauconda, a dental hygienist, spoke to children at the YMCA’s Child Development Center because February is National Children’s Dental Health Month.
“I don’t know that everybody thinks to take kids at a young age to the dentist. It’s really important to create good habits,” Zizic said.
She recommended bringing children as young as 1 or 2 along on dental visits to acclimate them to the dentist.
Zizic wore her dentist’s smock and brought some of the tools she uses to show the children at Wednesday’s presentation. She explained that she wore a smock, gloves and goggles to keep from sharing germs with patients.
Zizic and Rosenberg also taught the children how to bush their teeth properly. They demonstrated circular motions on the front, tops and back of each tooth.
The children were instructed to say, “Jiggle, jiggle, jiggle,” while brushing their teeth. Zizic said that in the amount of time it takes to say that jingle, one side of one tooth should be scrubbed.
The lesson also touched on eating healthy foods.
“If you want to have strong, healthy teeth, you have to make healthy choices. Eating is a choice,” Zizic said.
For example, kids were encouraged to choose water over sugary drinks like juice and pop.
YMCA Childcare Development Director Ruth Reichenbach of North Chicago called the program “fantastic.”
“It was educational and on a level where all the children could understand the information,” Reichenbach said.
She said she hoped to make this an annual event.
The idea for the presentation came from Rosenberg, who has two children at the YMCA and works for Zizic.
“I think they (the kids) learned the basics of going to the dentist and how to brush their teeth. I wanted them to learn and have a good time,” Rosenberg said.
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