Eldorado Elementary pupils take a Dental Safari
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Eldorado Elementary School pupils learned about parties of the not-so-much-fun kind: Germ parties.
These party revelers exist in the unbrushed mouths of sleeping children and they can become destructive.
"Germ parties make our teeth weak and soft," Dental Hygienist Emily Fischer of Murphysboro said.
"If you brush your teeth before you go to bed the germ parties won't happen."
Fischer works for Dr. Melissa Morley in Carbondale and conduct a teeth cleaning program called Dental Safari in schools throughout Southern Illinois.
Tuesday's program involved 15 minutes in classrooms with props and a lecture on the need for clean teeth and healthy eating -- sodas are a treat, but too many in between brushes leads to cavities.
For parents who desire from Feb. 2 to Feb. 4 the Morley's office will offer exams, teeth cleanings and application of sealants to prevent cavities.
Fisher used an oversized set of teeth and a brush to show how to clean teeth thoroughly. She used a foam cup that dissolved upon contact with a chemical to show how tooth enamel can become eroded.
Fischer said mouths in contact with acid should be rinsed prior to brushing.
"If you suck lemons or throw up a lot it weakens the enamel. You are not supposed to brush right after you throw up. Take a sip of water and wash (the acid) off first," Fischer said.
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DeNeal receives e-mail at mailto:bdeneal@yourclearwave.com.</li>
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