February has been named Dental Health Awareness and Prevention
Month in North Dakota. The proclamation, which was made by
Governor Jack Dalrymple on Thursday, promotes the encouragement
of families to review preventive measures to ensure healthy
teeth, gums and mouths. "Dental health is often an area of
health care that is overlooked, but is so important for a
person's overall health," said Kimberlie Yineman, director of
the North Dakota Department of Health's Oral Health Program. "By
increasing awareness, we are hoping that we can prevent serious
long-term health issues." According to the proclamation made by
Dalrymple, "tooth decay affects more than one-fourth of U.S.
children ages 2 to 5 years and half of those ages 12 to 15
years, and 20 percent of adolescents ages 12 to 19 years
currently have untreated decay." The Department of Health
encourages everyone to brush twice a day with fluoride
toothpaste, floss once a day, visit a dentist regularly for
checkups, and to get a professional cleaning on a regula