During the 2010-11 school year, students at Bijou Community School, Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet, Sierra House, Tahoe Valley and Zephyr Cove Elementary schools were provided a special dental kit and given a lesson on the importance of good dental hygiene and dental care.

This was the result of a partnership between Lake Tahoe Unified School District, Tahoe Magic, First Five and a grant from Barton Health’s Community Advisory Committee. The grant also provided eight dental story books to each school library.

South Tahoe High School students put together 2,000 dental bags filled with a toothbrush, floss, flossers, a dental book and a bracelet that reminded youngsters to “Brush, Floss and Smile.”

Education was provided on how many teeth they have, how to correctly brush and floss with a special emphasis on what plaque is and the long term health problems it can cause.

Also included in the bags was a letter to the student’s parents about the importance of dental care and a list of dentists.