Cepillarse los dientes -- (brush your teeth)

Many of the children who live in and around the orphanage are glad to receive any new thing...I guess like most kids.  Some students from a dental school in Northern California decided it would be a good idea to teach the children at Casa de los ninos how to brush their teeth.

As Cohort 2 (Pepperdine) discussed many times, sometimes we (the so called American saviors) rush to provide help...not knowing the true situation.  This was one such case.  The (dental hygiene) students came in with dental floss, toothbrushes, and toothpaste.  They were under the impression that because the children were poor, they didn't have access to dental care or know how to properly, brush and floss.  Nevertheless, the children really enjoyed receiving new dental supplies.

 This is the way you brush your teeth...

 Don Jose is the man who runs the orphanage - as well as opens this space to the children who live nearby.  The two parents shown in this picture sometimes eat with the children...but are mostly there to make sure that their children participate in the Spanish lessons.  (This is vacation time for the children -- similar to our summer vacation.  They don't go back to school until February)

 Now it's time to floss...

The youngsters were very happy to get their new dental supplies. The children are grateful for every thing they receive.  I wish my kids were like this when they were growing up :-)

Students in Costa Rica are given free dental and health care.  I spoke with a number of these children.  They have all been to the dentist -- as it's part of their education.  The youngsters advised me that dentists and other healthcare workers provide treatment and care as part of the educational process.  (I was really surprised by this)

Even though these youngsters are poor...they always report to Casa de los ninos in clean clothes and appear to have good dental and physical hygiene.