Kids, take it from Elmo (and UCLA) – brushing can be fun!

“It’s time to brush, it’s time to brush, it’s time to brush!”In a new video, the Sesame Street character Elmo sings a refrain that ’ll likely be familiar to any parent who has ever encouraged their little angels to brush their teeth.The two-minute music video is the result of a partnership between a UCLA-led consortium calledMore LA Smiles and Sesame Street in Communities. “Elmo’s Toothy Dance,” which debuts on YouTube today, is intended to make toothbrushing fun for kids while also including important pointers on proper brushing technique.It ’s the fifth installment in a new series of videos that the partnership has released in recent weeks as part of their campaign promoting children’s oral health. The previous four feature Sesame Street’s Grover character, as a dentist, explaining the importance of dental care for children, toot h-friendly foods, how much toothpaste to use and toothbrushing as part of a bedtime routine.  More LA Smiles began working withSesame Street in Communities in 2019. In addition to the videos, the partners have hosted oral health educational activities at Los Angeles schools and clinics, complete with a life-sized Grover. But with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, alternatives to in-person outreach became a priority, said Dr. Jim Crall, a professor of public health and community dentistry at theUCLA School of Dentistry and program director of More LA Smiles.“The pandemic has disrupted regular dental check-ups and in-pers...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news