"Teach Me How To Brushy" Video Encourages Kids to Adopt Health Oral Habits
A new song "Teach Me How to Brushy" set to the original melody of Cali Swag District's "Teach Me How to Dougie" tries to teach young children how to take care of their teeth in a fun way.
Oregon Dental Association created the public service announcement for parents to their children to have better dental habits.
"We wanted to create a fun, interactive tool parents can use to get their kids excited about good dental habits," Oregon Dental Association president-elect Dr. Jill Price, one of the stars of the video, said in a statement to ABC News.
"The mouth is a major health center in the body; unhealthy mouths can lead to diabetes, heart issues, and worse. But rather than lecture parents and expect that lecture to reach their kids, we wanted to create a hub for good facts that families will actually want to check out."
The dental association also created a Facebook page that features the video as well as quick facts and FAQs regarding dental health for children.
Parents and kids are also encouraged to created their own "Teach Me How to Brushy" to submit to the association.
Statistics from the Pew Charitable Trust show that nearly 17 million American children do not go to the dentists for important yearly check-ups, and a recent study published in March found that an increasing number of preschool children are showing up to dentist offices with 10 or more cavities.
Pediatric dentist Dr. Jonathan D. Shenkin, the American Dental Association spokesperson, called the new ODA public service announcement "great," nothing that one of the most difficult challenges dentists face is stressing the importance of regularly brushing one's teeth.
"There is nothing better that a person can do for their oral health than brush their teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste," Shenkin told ABC News.
"This video is great because it’s appealing to a younger audience. A lot of people aren’t serious about their health overall, which can coincide with their oral health, so this is a great way to motivate people," he added.