Some Mass. schools to provide dental care

Starting in January, Massachusetts will require nursery schools, pre-schools, and other licensed day care providers to give dental care lessons and supervise cleaning if children in their care are there for more than four hours a day or eat a meal, according to an article in the Milford Daily News.

Parents can opt out of the new state Department of Early Education and Care plan by signing a waiver, and centers meeting the requirements (four hours or more or serving a meal) only during school vacations are exempted, according to the news story. Otherwise, day care providers will wipe infants' gums with clean, damp cloths and supervise toothbrushing for older children, and state licensing inspectors will monitor compliance.

A 2007 survey found that more than one in four Massachusetts kindergarteners -- roughly 19,000 children -- showed signs of dental decay, with 10,000 of those cases untreated, the newspaper reported.