On February 22, if a child brings a picture of their old toothbrush to the Warwick Mall between 12:30 and 2:00 p.m., they will receive a new one.

Hosted by Rhode Island Dental Association and RIte Smiles, the Great Toothbrush Exchange seeks to combat the destructive effects of childhood tooth decay through educational programming. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cavities are the “leading cause of missed school among children,” with a yearly average of 34 million school hours and two million school days lost as a result of unexpected dental care.

“Kids with poor oral health are three times more likely to miss school and two times more likely to perform poorly academically,” added Dr. Greg Stepka, former President of RIDA.

According to Marie Jones-Bridges, the Community Outreach Coordinator with UnitedHealthcare Government Dental Programs, the event will feature five tables manned by health professionals and community members. The Rhode Island Dental Hygienists' Association, RIDA, Rhode Island Department of Health’s Oral Division, UnitedHealthcare and community representatives for the Rhode Island State Police will each have representatives present to discuss the importance of oral hygiene.

The event will include offerings geared towards all age groups. The organizers have dropped  off flyers at schools and posted on Facebook. Bridges-Jones said that “any age group from birth to 99 years old” can benefit from the information shared at the Great Toothbrush Exchange.

“Oral health begins as soon as the baby is born,” she added. “It’s the habits that you develop early that will last you for a lifetime because your teeth are designed to last that long.”

Get to practice on Chompy

Though intended to be educational, Bridges-Jones said that it will also be “a fun event.” There will be giveaways for children including coloring books and crayons in addition to a dental kit complete with a toothbrush, floss, toothpaste and a message from the Tooth Fairy reminding children to take care of their teeth. Children in attendance will also be able to practice their teeth-brushing skills on Chompy, a table top mascot with a set of fake teeth.

According to Aaron Guckian, the Executive Director of RIDA, the intention of the event is to “communicate with children that oral health is connected with everything.” 

Parents in attendance will have the opportunity to speak with healthcare providers– including dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants– to learn ways to encourage cavity prevention, including proper brushing and flossing methods and to help them navigate scheduling dentist appointments.

“It gives them the opportunity to ask questions that they hadn’t thought of,” Bridges-Jones added. For example, one of the tables will discuss saline swishes, which is an effective but lesser known method that children can incorporate into their dental hygiene routine. Another table will showcase the sugar content of common products like soda and Gatorade to raise awareness about the toll of sugar on oral health.

Also, Bridges-Jones mentioned that the number of dental visits have plummeted after the COVID-19 pandemic, and according to Guckian, the field itself has shrunk 11.8% in the past four years.

He referenced research by the Health Policy Institute that found that Rhode Island “had the largest group of young dentists leave the state.” In neighboring states, dentists and dental hygienists could make 25% to 30% more per year than their Rhode Island counterparts, he explained.

 Bridges-Jones hopes that this event will encourage parents to return to the dentist.

 “Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children to get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums,” said Dr. Fotini Dionisopoulus, Vice President of RIDA and a pediatric dentist.

This event is a local articulation of the national observance of Children’s Dental Health Month.