H E L P F U L H Y G I E N E T I P S

Brush 2x a day with

fluoride toothpaste

Floss every

day

Limit high-sugar

snacks

Drink milk or water instead of soft drinks

Visit your dentist every

six months

This Issue: Dental Hygiene

Good dental health is very important. We need our teeth to eat some of our favorite foods. And of course, we need our teeth to have a great smile. It is important to keep our teeth healthy because we want them to be with us forever.

Good dental health helps prevent plaque (plak), which is a clear film that sticks to your teeth. Little bits of food can stick to plaque. Bacteria, or tiny germs, in our mouth attach to the food and make acid. The acid eats away at the enamel (outer part of the tooth), caus-ing holes called cavities.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss every day to prevent the buildup of plaque on your teeth. Here are a few other tips to keep your teeth clean and healthy.

Take your time while brushing. Spend 2-3 minutes each time you brush. To pass the time, use a timer or play a song from a CD that you love.

Be sure your toothbrush has soft bristles. The package will tell you if they are soft. Get a new toothbrush every three months.

Make sure your toothpaste has fluoride. Fluoride makes your teeth strong and protects them from cavities. You can also use a fluoride rinse for extra protection.

TIME FOR TERRIFIC TEETH

La Porte County Dental ServicesHere for your Health!

Wellness Outreach @ The Crossing / 1203 Washington St., La Porte, INFor more information, call 219.326.2479

La Porte County Dental Services offers access to

dental services to those who may be

challenged with little or no income and a lack of

dental insurance.

La Porte Regional Health System works to ensure

that no family in our community will go without

quality dental services.

Services provided by:

Robert Grace, DDS and Dr. Manogna Katakam

To qualify for La Porte County Dental Services,

you must:

• Meet the federal poverty guidelines

• Bring proof of HOUSEHOLD income

• Bring documented proof of residency

La Porte County Dental Services

Community Health Center

400 Teegarden Street

La Porte, IN 46350

La Porte County Dental Services is supported by

La Porte Regional Health System and grants

through Indiana State Department of Health,

the La Porte Hospital Foundation and

other supporters.

Remember to brush & floss everyday!Remember to brush & floss everyday!Flossy and her friends are

exploring the jungle! Can you find the hidden

toothbrushes?

Flossy and her friends areexploring the jungle!

Can you find the hidden toothbrushes?

©2010 American Dental Association. All Rights Reserved. W743

February is National Children’s

Dental Health Month!www.ada.org

Sponsored by

hflaporte.org

323 PINE LAKE AVE. | PO BOX 517 | LA PORTE, IN 46352

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

LA PORTE, IN 46350PERMIT NO. 127

PAID

Lil’ F.I.S.H. Club™ HeadquartersLa Porte HospitalWellness Outreach @ The Crossing1203 Washington StreetLa Porte, IN 46350

219.326.2479e-mail: d.kessler@lph.org

Sponsored by

F EEL

I MPORTANT

S TAY

H EALTHY

Powered Toothbrush is a Valuable ToolThe Lil’ F.I.S.H. Club™ will be giving every student a GUM brand batter-operated toothbrush.

Battery powered toothbrushes can be great for dental hygiene. Powered brushes can brush

anywhere between 6,000 and 30,000 strokes per minute, helping to break up stuck-on plaque.

They are also a fun tool children can use to develop good brushing habits.

Each toothbrush comes with two AA batteries and directions for use on the inside of the package.

It also has a brush head that should be replaced every six months. The blue bristles fade, telling

you it’s time to replace the brush head.

Remember to keep the toothbrush, even if something happens to the head or bristles,

because the Lil’ F.I.S.H. Club™ will be back in May to give every child replacement brush heads

and more batteries.

When we eat food (especially sweets), the

sugar from the food combines with the

bacteria in our mouth and forms acid.

The acid eats away at teeth and causes

cavities, tooth decay and even gum disease.

Having a healthy diet is not just important

for keeping a healthy weight, it is

also very important for your teeth.

The American Dental Association says

that soft drinks are causing major dental

problems. Soft drinks are high in sugar and

have a lot of acid that can eat away at the

tooth enamel and cause cavities.

One study said that, on average, every

American drank over 53

gallons of soft drinks in the

year 2000. Even diet soft

drinks and sports

drinks are high in acid and

can cause tooth decay.

Drink milk or water

instead of soda

to keep teeth healthy.

Cut Down on Cavitities by

Eating Healthy

To help protect your teeth, try to avoid snacks and drinks that are high in sugar. Try snacking on raw fruits and vegetables

instead of cookies and candy. If your sweet tooth gets the best of you, brush right after you snack to prevent acid buildup.*

Attack Plaque! word search

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Powered Toothbrush is a Valuable Tool

See how many words you can find in 20 minutes! Words go across, up, down, and diagonal.

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The Lil’ F.I.S.H. Club™ will be giving every student a GUM brand batter-operated toothbrush. Battery powered toothbrushes can be great for dental hygiene. Powered brushes can brush anywhere between 6,000 and 30,000 strokes per minute, helping to break up stuck-on plaque. They are also a fun tool children can use to develop good brushing habits.

Each toothbrush comes with two AA batteries and directions for use on the inside of the package. It also has a brush head that should be replaced every six months. The blue bristles fade, telling you it’s time to replace the brush head.

Remember to keep the toothbrush, even if something happens to the head or bristles, because the Lil’ F.I.S.H. Club™ will be back in May to give every child replacement brush heads and more batteries.

When we eat food (especially sweets), the

sugar from the food combines with the

bacteria in our mouth and forms acid.

The acid eats away at teeth and causes

cavities, tooth decay and even gum disease.

Having a healthy diet is not just important

for keeping a healthy weight, it is

also very important for your teeth.

The American Dental Association says

that soft drinks are causing major dental

problems. Soft drinks are high in sugar and

have a lot of acid that can eat away at the

tooth enamel and cause cavities.

One study said that, on average, every

American drank over 53

gallons of soft drinks in the

year 2000. Even diet soft

drinks and sports

drinks are high in acid and

can cause tooth decay.

Drink milk or water

instead of soda

to keep teeth healthy.

Cut Down on Cavitities by

Eating Healthy

To help protect your teeth, try to avoid snacks and drinks that are high in sugar. Try snacking on raw fruits and vegetables

instead of cookies and candy. If your sweet tooth gets the best of you, brush right after you snack to prevent acid buildup.*

Did You Know?

HOW MUCH ACID IS IN YOURDRINK?

Why should we care about acid?Tooth decay occurs when sugar combines with bacteria in the mouth and produces acid. This acid attacks the teeth, along with the acid already contained in your drinks. Diet or “sugar-free” soft drinks still contain acid that harms the teeth. Ongoing acid attacks weaken your tooth enamel which can lead to cavities.

HIGH ACIDITY(Drink Rarely, If At All)

Soft Drinks / Diet Soft DrinksSports Energy Drinks

MEDIUM ACIDITY(Drink Occasionally)Juice

LOW ACIDITY(Drink Plenty)Water / Milk