Hygiene Happy Hour with misty Mattingly and Kim McCrady

This episode of Hygiene Happy Hour features returning guest and dental hygiene leader Kim McCrady for an inspiring conversation about leadership, prevention, and the power of making oral health education engaging for children. Kim shares an update on the evolving role of Oral Preventive Assistants and discusses how the dental hygiene profession is continuing to move toward a more collaborative, disease-focused model of care. The conversation also explores the importance of clinicians understanding the business side of dentistry, stepping into leadership roles, and using their influence to improve patient outcomes and strengthen dental teams. A major highlight of the episode is Kim’s new children’s book, Plaque Poop. Inspired by years of chairside patient education and her young granddaughter, Kim turned one of her favorite teaching analogies into a fun and memorable story that helps kids understand bacteria, brushing, and flossing in a way that actually makes sense to them. By explaining oral health in a playful and relatable way, the book helps children and parents better understand why daily habits like brushing and flossing are so important. Throughout the episode, Kim and the host also discuss why dental decay remains the number one chronic disease in children and how early education can play a powerful role in prevention. They talk about creative ways hygienists can connect with kids and families, the importance of starting oral health conversations early, and how simple educational tools can help create healthier habits that last a lifetime. This episode is filled with thoughtful insights, practical ideas, and a reminder of the impact dental professionals can have when they focus on prevention, education, and leadership within the profession.