Brushing your teeth was never this fun.

On Wednesday, Orville Wright School nurse Judy Dorward dressed up as the tooth fairy and led kindergartners through second-graders in rousing songs about the joys of dental hygiene.

"Did you learn how to take care of your teeth?" she asked the children, who responded with enthusiastic affirmation. "Good job and good brushing, boys and girls."

Dorward's performance was part of the Modesto elementary school's Health Education Decathlon.

The event was organized by the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency to commemorate National Public Health Week, which runs through Friday. Health educators put on the show to encourage children to develop good health habits.

Principal Dave Takvorian was pleased to have the agency on campus.

"This is an at-risk community," he said, referring to the school's low-income neighborhood. "A lot of basic types of hygiene aren't done here."

One of the most popular presenters of the day was Ms. Butts, county health employee Martha del Real dressed in a cigarette costume. She warned children not to smoke, while she stood in front of a giant banner with pictures depicting the cost of smoking -- diseased tongues, teeth and gums.

Afterward, her co-worker Donna Phillips led the children in song.

"I do not smoke now," the kids sang, while marching to the music. "I never will!"

Linda Burk, a county health educator, led a presentation on hand-washing. She put a special lotion on the students' hands and then had the children put their hands under a black light. The light highlighted where their hands were dirty.

Burk reminded the kids when to wash their hands: after going to the bathroom and after playing with pets.

Other presentations at the decathlon focused on nutrition and safety.

David Jones, public information officer for the agency, said the health habits children learn now can last a lifetime.

"The message we're trying to get to kids is to start early," he said.

Reprinted by permission of Modesto Bee.