There is a tendency for people to overlook the health of their teeth, gums, and mouth because other conditions and diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, or heart problems, capture the headlines or seem more serious.
Healthy teeth and gums are closely tied to our overall health in a variety of ways. Most obviously, chewing and swallowing food is necessary for us to receive proper nutrition. As well, good dental health can help self-esteem and proper speech. If teeth are not properly maintained, dental diseases or repair can be costly and time consuming.
As well the “Issue Briefs on Challenges for the 21st Century: Chronic and Disabling Conditions” reports the following:
- Tooth decay remains the most common chronic disease among children ages 5-17 with 59% affected.
- More than 51 million hours of school are lost each year by children due to dental related illness.
- Just 40% of children in poor or near-poor poverty level had a preventive dental visit in the past year.
With this in mind, Inna Horvath, dentist/dental hygienist, made presentations to her daughters’ elementary school to encourage proper brushing and dental hygiene. As part of her presentation, she told a story about a little girl, named Lola, who was convinced by a group of friends that it wasn’t necessary to brush her teeth. Sir Germs-A-Lot paid Lola a visit and it wasn’t long before she developed cavities. A trip to the dentist and regular brushing solved the problem.
The kids loved the story!
Anytime Horvath visited her daughters’ campus students would come up to her and tell her that they were properly brushing their teeth. These comments prompted Horvath to put the story of Lola in writing, Lola and Sir-Germs-A-Lot.
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