About 240 enthusiastic first, second and third graders, at BridgePrep Academy Charter School in Miami, were each given bright orange lunch boxes with toothpaste, a brush, and floss, and schooled on the proper way to care for their teeth, as part of the Children's Oral Health Institute's Lessons in a Lunch Box: Healthy Teeth Essentials & Facts About Snacks Program. The annual national effort equips students with an exclusively designed bright orange lunch box and dental carrot case, as a daily reminder for them to eat healthy and to clean their teeth after every meal. The Miami-Dade County Dental Society spearheaded this year’s program at BridgePrep Academy Charter School. November 18th marked the first time the program was held in Miami.
Dr. John Nelson, owner of Midtown Dental Miami and President of the Miami-Dade County Dental Society, was among several dentists, dental students, hygienists and others, who registered to volunteer for the program and help teach kids healthy dietary and dental hygiene.
Officials say demand for the lunch box and dental carrot cases have increased since the initiative was introduced in 2008 by CEO and Founder Dr. Winifred Booker.
"We are excited to participate in Lessons in a Lunchbox, said Dr. Nelson. It’s so important to encourage our youth to begin these kinds of healthy habits early and this is an outstanding way to do just that. We hope the lunchboxes will really drive home the point to kids that healthy eating as well as flossing and brushing is important,” he added.
"We feel very fortunate to be able to participate in this program this year and have Dr. Nelson and his staff come out and assist our students in this effort," said Assistant Principal Vanessa Latorre.