October is not all about ghosts and goblins; it is also about brushing, flossing and devoting a whole month to dental hygiene.
National Dental Hygiene Month, celebrated every year in October, was a weeklong event until five years ago when it was extended to an entire month.
This year’s theme is tobacco cessation. The Smoking Cessation Campaign will set up workshops nationwide to educate people on the dangers of tobacco and offer helpful tips for quitting.
One of the biggest goals during Dental Hygiene Month is to educate people about the importance of good oral hygiene.
Ronda Poland, a dental hygiene student and president of the current graduating class, said that it is important to teach people the right way to brush their teeth. Many do not realize that it is more than just regular brushing habits, but the techniques they use.
Poland said that a lot of people were not taught the right way to brush. Brushing in a gentle, circular motion is best for teeth and gums, she said.
Teaching good hygiene habits to kids is difficult, Poland said. She works to develop these, as well as regular check-ups, with her two children. “The 12-year-old still has to be reminded to brush,” she said, laughing.
Negative effects from poor oral hygiene include more than just the obvious problems of bad breath and plaque buildup.
Poland said that tooth decay and gingivitis have a negative effect on nutrition and overall health.
Poland said that her biggest concern during this month is to make students aware of the services that the Dental Hygiene Clinic offers. “I’m trying to get the word out to ETSU students that we’re here,” she said.
She said that many students, especially those who do not live on campus, do not realize the types of services that the clinic offers. These services, which include oral exams, fluoride treatments, teeth cleanings and dental hygiene therapy, are offered to both students and faculty.
All month long the clinic is offering $5 off oral exams (including cancer exams), x-rays, fluoride treatments and cleanings for all ETSU students, staff and faculty.
The dental hygiene class is also having a bake sale Oct. 22 to raise money for a graduation banquet.
Poland said ETSU’s dental hygiene program accepts a maximum of 24 students every year. The current graduating class has 22 students.
She said that regionally there is not a shortage of dental hygienists, which is probably a result of ETSU’s program.
There is, however, a national shortage of dental hygienists. “Ladies from here could go to Florida or Washington D.C. and have five to 10 dentists clamoring to get them,” she said.
Poland said there is a regional shortage of dental hygiene instructors.

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