County proclaims February as National Children’s Dental Health Month

For its first declaration as an expanded board, the Thurston Board of Health proclaimed the month of February as National Children’s Dental Health Month during its meeting on Tuesday, February 14.

Beth Garson, marketing communications manager at Hands On Children’s Museum received the proclamation, saying it’s the 23rd year that the museum is mounting events for similar celebrations.

“It's an opportunity for us to work with local dentists in our community,” shared Garson.

Garson announced that there are free dental screenings for children every Saturday for the month of February. The museum will also feature a dental office exhibit where children can wear lab coats and perform dental exams on stuffed animals on a real dentist chair. The exhibit will also feature maritime mouths and teeth which will teach children the difference between shark teeth and whale teeth.

 “It's just a really wonderful month to be able to spotlight the real importance of Children's Dental Health,” said Garson. “And to be able to get them started in an environment that is friendly and inviting and not scary and to get them on the right path to good oral health.”

Commissioner Gary Edwards said such efforts provide opportunities for children for better overall health.

“Kids are 30 percent of our population, but they're a hundred percent of our future, and if we don't get it right we're in trouble,” said Edwards.

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services has prioritized oral health in the 2020- 2024 Department Strategic Plan as “a key approach needed to encourage healthy living.”