Rinse Program:
Outline
Administrative Guidelines

Tablet Program:
Outline
Administrative Guidelines

King Fluoride School-Based Rinse Program
Guidelines for Administration

Volunteer functions vary by school. Here are some suggestions for volunteers. Individual schools and county health departments should determine the best way to provide a school-based fluoride mouthrinse program.

1. Conduct a Parent Interest Survey
   With the school principal's permission, conduct a parent interest survey before making a final decision to implement the mouthrinse program. This will provide concrete figures to be used when presenting the program for consideration. A survey can be sent home with each child to be completed by a parent or guardian and returned to the teacher. The volunteer can compile the survey.
   
   
2. Receive Administrative Approval
   Seek approval and support for the program from the school principal, district superintendent, and/or district nurse based on the survey findings. Arrange a presentation to the school board, PTA, or faculty as appropriate.
   
   
3. Distribute and Collect Consent Forms
   Only those children who have a permission form signed by a parent or guardian are allowed to participate in the program. The Oregon Health Services provides permission forms. Copies can be made of a sample permission form, which are available in Spanish, Russian, and other languages.
   
   
4. Place an Order for Supplies and Secure Adequate Storage Space
   Mail your supply order form to the Oregon Health Services or contact us by phone at (971) 673-0252. Arrange for the school to order paper cups, napkins, etc. Secure a suitable storage area in a locked room or cupboard that is out of the reach of children and is maintained at room temperature. In compliance with Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Code, a Material Safety Data Sheet must be kept on file in your school.
   
   
5. Recruit and Train Parent or Teacher Volunteers
   All volunteers who will be responsible for the distribution of the fluoride should be trained in the storage, mixing, procedure for rinsing, and treatment of overdose of the mouthrinse. All training materials are provided by the Oregon Health Services, Dental Health Program. This training is in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration's Statement on School-Based Use of Various Fluoride Preparations issued by the Dental Products Advisory Committee. Faculty or other volunteers designated by the school and trained in the dispensing of fluoride preparations in a school-based setting are not liable in a criminal action or for civil damages if the fluoride is administered in good faith and pursuant to written permission by the student's parents or guardian. This is in accordance with ORS 339.870 section 2, chapter 144, Oregon Laws 1997.
   
   
6. Prepare Participant Rosters
   Individual class rosters with the name of each student with a signed permission form should be prepared for each class participating in the King Fluoride Program. Recording the students' weekly participation is helpful when compiling program statistics, which is requested from each school once a year.
   
   
7. Determine Location of Rinsing
   Develop a system that works best for your school. Some schools conduct the rinsing in the individual classrooms. Others have volunteers mix the fluoride in a central area, for example the nurse's office, pump out enough cups for each classroom, and push the cart to the individual classrooms. Other programs are scheduled at lunch time in the school cafeteria where volunteers hand out cups and check off students' names from the participation roster for those students who have permission to rinse. It helps to designate one day of the week as fluoride rinse day the same day every week. NEVER double up on the fluoride if you miss one week.
   
   
8. Mix Fluoride Mouthrinse
   1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
   2. Rinse the jug and plunger with hot water.
   3. Open 2 (2-gram) packets of the fluoride by shaking the powder to the bottom of the packet. Pour the contents of the two packets into the half gallon jug. If any powder spills, wipe off the jug, counter, etc., with a damp paper towel.
   4. Add a little cold water and shake well until the powder is dissolved.
   5. Fill the jug with cold water almost to the top of the jug. Allow room for the plunger.
   6. Put the plunger in and screw on tightly.
   7. Shake again to mix thoroughly.
   8. Wash your hands when you have completed working with the powder.
   9. ALWAYS store the fluoride where children have no access.
   
   **Fluoride rinse has a shelf-life of 3 weeks from the date of mixing, per the manufacturer. The fluoride ion does not break down after this date but the recommendation holds because the quality of the water used in mixing is not known. The jugs should be washed with warm soapy water, rinsed throughly and left to air dry before mixing a new jug of rinse. Oregon Public Health will replace jugs as needed if they break down or send out additional jugs as new classes are added to the program. Please indicate these needs on your supply order form.**
   
   
9. Rehearse the Procedures with the Students
   Describe the rinsing procedure to the students and explain the benefits of the mouthrinse. Dispense one plunge of fluoride for each child. The mouthrinse is swished around for 60 seconds and returned to the cup. The students should not eat or drink for 30 minutes afterwards. A napkin is placed in the cup to soak up liquid and the cup is thrown away. In some schools with sinks, napkins are not used, and the mouthrinse is emptied in the sink. It may be helpful, particularly for younger children, to practice rinsing with water until they can demonstrate rinsing without swallowing. Training videos are also available from the Oregon Public Health, (971) 673-0252.
   
   
10. Monitor Supplies
    When your school's supply of fluoride is low, please mail in a supply order form to the Oregon Public Health.
    
    
11. Compile Statistics on Fluoride Mouthrinse Participation
    By March 15, complete a form on the number of children and classrooms participating in the King Fluoride program.
    
    
12. Toothbrushing
    We recommend a daily toothbrushing program, but it is not mandatory for participation in the King Fluoride program. One toothbrush is provided once a year for each child who participates in the fluoride program. Some schools have the children brush in their classrooms every day at the same time. Other schools use the toothbrushes as rewards for returning signed permission forms.
    
    
13. Classroom Oral Wellness Education
    The Oral Health Program has age-appropriate teaching materials and videos available for loan. If you would like more information, please call (971) 673-0252.
    
    
14. For Further Information:
    If you have any questions or concerns about the mouthrinse program, please contact us at (971) 673-0252.
    
    In compliance with Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Code, a Material Safety Data Sheet on fluoride powder is available by calling (971) 673-0252.
    
    Dental health consultants are available, in some areas, through the Oregon Health Services to provide oral health education presentations on various subjects and can help initiate a fluoride program in your school. Contact us to find out if a consultant is available in your county (971) 673-0252.
    

Again, thank you for your efforts and commitment to the oral health of your community.