You know those cute adorable pictures all over the internet of kids and their parents looking in the mirror as they brush their teeth? Today at my school reminded me of those pictures.
The American Dental Association recently made a trip to Grenada on humanitarian status to deliver a toothbrush and toothpaste kit to all students in Grenada's primary schools. I must commend the ADA for coming to Grenada and seeing the real need for dental care in our children. They even took the time to have a dental hygiene crash course for the kids and an adorable demonstration on the importance of clean teeth.
Today was my first day back at the school after the toothbrush extravaganza last week and man was I in for a surprise. I was busy all day griding the wall for our school mural project so I didn't get very much time in the classroom to interact with the kids. The students get an hour lunch break (crazy right?) and I was preparing for a million questions like "Miss why you doing that?", when a little boy came up to me and asked if he could brush his teeth. I giggled and said well of course, forgetting that all the kids had new toothbrush kits.
About twenty minutes later I walk back into our classroom to eat lunch with my counterpart and what did I see? 25 students sitting quietly in their seats, hands quickly brushing their teeth and giggling away to each others weird mouth noises. I couldn't help but just start laughing, which caused them to laugh and spew foam all over the place, but regardless, it was funny. For the next 10 minutes I heard my counterpart keep reminding them "kids please don't eat d toothpaste", "brush up and down and round and round", and "get those rotten teeth in the back too!".
Alot of these kids have never been taught the importance of brushing their teeth and many of them have rotted teeth from lack of brushing. They were so excited to get a new toothbrush and couldn't wait to brush away that I thought them might brush their enamel right off.
Today reminded me just how much we take for granted the ability to purchase basic necessities and the lessons we were taught as kids. No I sure don't remember the day my mom taught me to brush my teeth, but I'm sure these kids will forever remember the day the Americans came to their school and gave them new toothbrushes and taught them how to "brush round and round".
Its little things like today that remind me just how lucky I am and how much I have to repay to our world...
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