0817
StateofNewYork•DepartmentofHealth
12/05
Parents,
DidyouknowtheNewYorkStateDepartmentofHealthoffersaschool-basedfluoride
rinse for children living in communities with no fluoride in their drinking water?
TheSelf-AppliedFluorideandEducationRinsingProgram(SAFER)isapreventive
servicethathasbeensuccessfullyimplementedinmanyNewYorkStateschoolsfor
over 25 years. This program aids in protecting children’s teeth from dental caries
(tooth decay) and assists children in practicing positive health behaviors such as
dailybrushingandflossing.
Parentalconsentisrequiredandeachschooldistrictappointsavolunteersupervising
dentist or school physician to oversee the SAFER program. The fluoride rinse is
providedatnocosttoschoolsorstudentsthatenroll.
School-based Fluoride Rinse
Thefluoriderinseisusedonaweeklybasisforchildren6yearsofageandolder.
Thefluoriderinsecomespackagedinindividualcupsandinvolves“swishingand
spitting.”Intheclassroom,childrenareaskedtoholdtherinseintheirmouthfor
oneminute,swish,andthenspitthesolutionbackintotheoriginalcupwithout
swallowing.
Fluoride Toothpaste
Ensureyourchildbrusheshisorherteethtwiceaday(afterbreakfastandbefore
bed)withnomorethanapea-sizedamount(smallsmear)offluoridetoothpaste.
Makesureyourchildisspittingoutthetoothpasteafterbrushing.
Parents,
DidyouknowtheNewYorkStateDepartmentofHealthoffersaschool-basedfluoride
rinse for children living in communities with no fluoride in their drinking water?
TheSelf-AppliedFluorideandEducationRinsingProgram(SAFER)isapreventive
servicethathasbeensuccessfullyimplementedinmanyNewYorkStateschoolsfor
over 25 years. This program aids in protecting children’s teeth from dental caries
(tooth decay) and assists children in practicing positive health behaviors such as
dailybrushingandflossing.
Parentalconsentisrequiredandeachschooldistrictappointsavolunteersupervising
dentist or school physician to oversee the SAFER program. The fluoride rinse is
providedatnocosttoschoolsorstudentsthatenroll.
School-based Fluoride Rinse
Thefluoriderinseisusedonaweeklybasisforchildren6yearsofageandolder.
Thefluoriderinsecomespackagedinindividualcupsandinvolves“swishingand
spitting.”Intheclassroom,childrenareaskedtoholdtherinseintheirmouthfor
oneminute,swish,andthenspitthesolutionbackintotheoriginalcupwithout
swallowing.
Fluoride Toothpaste
Ensureyourchildbrusheshisorherteethtwiceaday(afterbreakfastandbefore
bed)withnomorethanapea-sizedamount(smallsmear)offluoridetoothpaste.
Makesureyourchildisspittingoutthetoothpasteafterbrushing.
0817
StateofNewYork•DepartmentofHealth
12/05