Should Kids Use Toothbrushes at Daycare?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth decay is the most common form of infectious disease among young children. It happens when bacteria from food collects on the tooth, forming plaque and eventually causing a hole, or cavity, to form. It is entirely preventable with good dental practices and habits, such as regular brushing with a fluoride toothpaste. Some states have passed regulations to mandate toothbrushing in daycare centers to help prevent tooth decay.

Is it Necessary?

• Yes, according to Sherri Killins, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Early Education, which oversees daycare centers-- and helped establish regulations to curb dental disease. "It's teaching the children and the families about proper oral care...making sure they appropriately brush their teeth after meals," she says. According to one 2003 state-funded study, one in four kindergartners in Massachusetts have dental disease. Half of these cases go untreated, says Killins.

State Regulation

• Massachusetts is the first state to pass a law mandating the use of toothbrushes in daycare centers. Since the law was passed in January of 2010, any child who eats a meal while at daycare -- or is there for more than four hours -- is required to brush their teeth, according to the Department of Early Education and Care.

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Parental Concern

• The new mandate has many parents concerned about over-reaching governmental involvement in their children's lives. "I don't want someone's hand in my child's mouth," says Sarah Brodsky, a teacher at First Path Day Care in Watertown -- and mother of 4-month-old Noah. It's too much government intervention, she adds. There are also concerns of germ transmission; a study at the University of Goteburg Department of Pedodontics in Sweden found 44 toothbrushes contaminated with harmful bacteria in four daycare centers. Studies like this suggest that unsupervised toothbrushing at daycares may cause more harm than good.

Bottom Line

• Parents and guardians who are strongly against the regulation have the option to opt-out, if they choose. However, parents should embrace the new mandate, says Dr. Maria Georgaklis, pediatric dentist with Cleveland Circle Dental Associates. "This will prevent tooth decay," she says. Dr. David S. Samuels, President of the Massachusetts Dental Society, says teachers and caregivers need to get involved, in order for the program to be effective. Proper storage of toothbrushes and sterilization of sinks will help prevent the spread of sickness and germs that worries many parents.