Teddy Bears and Teeth

Teddy Bear Adventures has been happening at KidsQuest Children’s Museum for years. It’s a special clinic that happens all throughout the museum to give children a chance to bring their favorite stuffed animal to visit with medical professionals and give their stuffie a check-up, learn about vaccines, and in extreme cases, take their favorite friend for a cast or stitches. However, for the first time ever, there was a new element to this special clinic: dentists! At the “Tooth Check” booth of this year’s Teddy Bear Adventures, kids were able to identify and feel the teeth on animal skull molds that would most closely resemble those of their stuffed animal in the real world. There were five options for them to choose from: a black bear (most popular), deer (very similar to unicorns), an arctic fox, a jack rabbit, and a coyote.

On the other side of the booth, children were able to practice their brushing and flossing on a GIANT set of teeth that kept getting spinach stuck between them! The giant toothbrush in particular was a big favorite, and it was actually surprising to see just how determined some of these kids were to brush out every single “yuck” from this mouth. A huge thank you goes out to Drs. Alexis David and Audrey Mikkelson for volunteering at this event, checking Carrots the Bunny and all the friends that came along throughout the day for dental “ouchies”, and teaching each kid that came bouncing up how to do their best work to get the “sugar bugs” out of their teeth.

The importance of a program like this cannot be overstated, even if it does not seem immediately obvious. These kids got to play with their dentists and doctors, they got to see that these adults who might be scary in their bright sterile offices, are just as ready to have some fun. Children scrubbing like mad at a giant set of teeth is impossible not to smile at, but also provides an opening to the discussion of “Do you brush your teeth like that at home? Remember to get all the way in the back!” while they giggle at their own antics and brush an invisible tongue. Opportunities like these, to bring dental health into a different setting, can make all the difference in breaking down social barriers and emphasizing the importance of this care to both the children and guardians who are dutifully following along behind their small charges.