Flossing champs: Lower Valley students learn to take care of teeth, encourage families
Published 3:24 pm Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Every year during the month of October, Cedarcrest High School health teacher, Peggy Filer, promotes a “Healthy Challenge” program, in which she encourages all Riverview staff, students, and families to set healthy goals and track their progress on the road to better health.
This year, one of the first groups to accept the challenge were fifth graders at Cherry Valley Elementary. In all, 85 students volunteered to participate and encouraged their families, as well. Their challenge was to floss their teeth every day from October 3 to 28.
Students kept track of their success on a daily graph and were thrilled with their accomplishments. They also did research on flossing, and learned that it helps to prevent cavities and gum disease. All of the dental floss was donated by Dr. Sam Castillo of the Duvall Dental Center.
According to a survey done before the flossing challenge, an average of 23 participants flossed their teeth daily, or only 27 percent. During the challenge when the stats came in, an average of 65 students flossed their teeth each day, increasing the average to 76 percent.
After hearing the outcome of the “flossing challenge” from Cherry Valley, Filer said the results “make my heart sing!”
“It is wonderful that the students are starting this important habit while they are still so young,” she said. “People of all ages can change their behavior with planning and support. Watching kids realize they have a lot of control over their health is the best part of my job.”
