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Courtesy Roberto Treviño,

Every first grader attending Alma Pierce Elementary, Bruni Elementary, Zaffirini Elementary, and  Bonnie Garcia Elementary, will be given a free prevent tooth decay kit on Wednesday, February 2. A healthy teeth lesson for the children, along with kit distribution, will take place at the times and locations listed below.  A total of approximately 640 kits are being distributed as part of the Fantastic Teeth Fan Club, a program of Masonic Children & Family Services, to prevent children from suffering with toothaches, reduce missed school days due to dental problems, and cut costs for dental treatment. Drew Claes, a member of Laredo Masonic Lodge #547, coordinated the project.  Kits were assembled and delivered by Lodge members.

Prevent tooth decay kits contain:

·         Toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss

·         Healthy teeth sticker

·         Two minute timer (optimal brushing time)

·         “Tips for Healthy Teeth At Any Age” educational flyer in both English and Spanish

·         Summary of MCFS services and grant opportunities

According to Oral Health In America: A Report of the Surgeon General, tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease—five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever. Poor children are affected by this epidemic more frequently than other children, with nearly 12 times more restricted-activity days due to dental issues than children from higher-income families. A recent study from The Texas Kids Count Project showed more than 1.5 million Texas children living in poverty—another indicator of the great need for this type of program.

In addition, dental problems directly affect success for children, with more than 51 million school hours lost each year to dental-related illness. Teachers have judged both classroom performance and classroom behavior to be significantly poorer among children in need of dental care. Pain and suffering due to untreated dental disease can also lead to problems in eating, and speaking, as well as, learning. Masonic Children & Family Services of Texas (MCFS) is a non-profit organization with a history spanning more than 100 years of providing services to children of Texas. Services include, but are not limited to:

·         Fantastic Teeth Fan Club – Prevent tooth decay program for children, with a goal of teaching  children to properly care for their teeth and providing parents with basic information on good dental habits.  Focus is on preventing pain and suffering, as well as, reducing the cost of dental services.  The program is in response to requests for financial aid for children’s dental services—many of the dental problems result from lack of basic dental care and parents’ ignorance of good dental habits for their children. 

·         Medical, dental, and prescription services

·         Tutoring, career counseling, tuition assistance, and educational scholarships

·         Counseling and psychological services

·         Information and referral services for children, families, and agencies