CATCH Healthy Smiles

The CATCH Healthy Smiles program is designed to prevent tooth decay for students in kindergarten through 2nd grade. Throughout the program, students will learn about the major factors that cause tooth decay and what they can do to maintain a healthy smile.

The program is designed to help students:

• Discover the causes of tooth decay, including dietary choices and poor oral health habits
• Develop skills for brushing, flossing, and choosing tooth-healthy foods & drinks
• Recognize the importance of regular dental visits
• Create personal oral health care goals 

CATCH Healthy Smiles is designed to influence the following social, behavioral and psychological factors: 

• Supporting the norm that everybody takes care of their teeth by brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist
• Develop the knowledge that hygiene habits, food & drink choices and dental check-ups influence oral health
• Creating positive oral hygiene attitudes and beliefs
• Developing the skills needed to properly brush and floss teeth
• Developing the skills needed to choose tooth-healthy foods and drinks

The intended behavioral outcomes are to ensure that students will:

• Use the proper technique to brush their teeth for two minutes at least twice a day with help from an adult
• Use the proper technique to floss their teeth at least once a day with help from an adult
• Visit the dentist twice a year
• Choose water to drink and tooth-friendly foods like crunchy vegetables and fruits to eat

The CATCH Healthy Smiles program components are:

1. Curriculum

• Five 25-minute classroom sessions for each grade level from kindergarten-2nd grade with PowerPoint presentations and printable vocabulary word walls
• 40+ TEKS-based extension activities per grade level designed to reinforce the classroom sessions and deepen understanding
• 9 PE Supplemental Activities to extend knowledge into the Physical Activity classroom
• 2 CATCH Healthy Smiles Videos for use in the classroom
• Visual materials: posters, vocabulary word wall printable, & stickers

2. Toothbrushing Routine:

• We will provide toothbrushes, toothpaste and all of the storage and cleaning materials you will need to work with your students to build toothbrushing skills at least once a week and ideally several times a week.
• The Teacher Success Toolkit is designed to help teachers plan a successful toothbrushing routine

3. Training: 

• Educator training on how to implement the curriculum and toothbrushing routine
• CATCH Healthy Smiles Champion training designed to help your CATCH Healthy Smiles Champion lead the program implementation on site
• A Teacher Success Toolkit to help teachers plan a successful toothbrushing routine
• This Coordination Guide to guide a school-wide approach to oral health promotion
• A Teacher Feedback Survey to guide further development
• Technical assistance for the digital implementation of CATCH Healthy Smiles at your school
• Ongoing support and resources via the CATCH Healthy Smiles Teacher Facebook Group

4. Parent Outreach Materials:

• Parent Fact Sheets, Infographics and At Home Activities in English and Spanish
• Sample parent outreach messaging
• Oral health care goal sheets to be sent home with students and completed with a guardian
• Videos to reinforce learning at home
• Slides to present the program to your community or SHAC
• Parent social media page to engage parents in oral health-related topics

5. School-Wide Engagement:

• Sample morning announcements about oral health care
• Family Fun Night Guide to highlight oral health care during school events
• Posters for the classroom, bathroom and cafeteria
• Labels for the cafeteria food line to highlight tooth-friendly crunchy vegetables and fresh fruits
• Bulletin Board themes with printable materials to showcase oral health care themes