Brushing Teeth at School
Brushing teeth… perhaps a different experience than what one expects to see at school.
But this simple habit goes largely untaught in the Dominican Republic, with lifelong consequences as a result.
Students arrive to school with missing or decayed teeth, painful cavities, or infections that can have life-long consequences. Many are missing permanent teeth at young ages. Consistent dental care is expensive and inaccessible.
So, we teach dental hygiene at school.
Teeth brushing and hygiene are part of our holistic approach to education. In addition to academics, teachers and health staff help students learn practical ways to care for their bodies — brushing correctly, understanding why it matters, and forming routines that can protect their health long-term.
Children receive a toothbrush and toothpaste, and are taught proper techniques and practice brushing. For some, this is their first introduction to personal dental care and that toothbrush might become the family’s only toothbrush. It’s a small but important step toward prevention — helping children build habits that promote dignity, confidence, and well-being.
The photos shown here are from Constanza School, where students recently participated in a hands-on dental hygiene activity. But this is part of a broader effort across all Kids Alive Dominican Republic schools — teaching children that caring for their bodies is one way to live out the belief that they are valued and created with purpose.
Holistic care means care for the whole child — body, mind, and spirit — and helping them grow healthy in each of those areas.
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