Boston.com is reporting that a new law went into effect on January 1st in Massachusetts that will require that all children in day care longer than four hours and/or who eat a meal to have their teeth brushed on-site.  Parents are allowed to opt out of this rule (at least for the time being). 

In a time of rising unemployment, dropping house prices, a growing state fiscal deficit, and terrorism, this is the priority of the State of Massachusetts?

According to an article at WCVB TV Channel 5 in Boston, one daycare center has already begun to put the program in place with a few guidelines:

• “We’re providing the toothbrushes, the holders, the cases and the toothpastes, as well,” said Chan.  (Nicole Chan, who works at Knowledge Beginnings in Needham, Mass.)
• Teachers are the only ones who can hand the child their toothbrush.

I understand the need for good oral hygiene, but I have a few questions:

• Who is going to enforce this mandate?
• What new agency is going to be formed (and funded) to pay for this?
• If these children were at home with their mothers, would their teeth be brushed at noon?
• What will be the penalty is a daycare center does not comply?
• What is the health risk to a child who mistakenly grabs or is handed the wrong toothbrush?
• Is there any way to store a large number of used toothbrushes in a sanitary environment?

This whole idea seems like a nightmare to me.  It truly seems to me to be the embodiment of the “Nanny” state.