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First Graders in Rockwall Get Free Prevent Tooth Decay Kits

Rockwall, TX – About 600 first graders at six Rockwall elementary schools (Rochell, Springer, Amy Parks, Shannon, Dobbs, and Cullins Lake Pointe Elementary) will be given free prevent tooth decay kits on Friday, February 3 and Friday, February 17. The project, called the Fantastic Teeth Fan Club, is a program of Masonic Children & Family Services (MCFS) to prevent children from suffering with toothaches, reduce missed school days due to dental problems, and cut costs for dental treatment.

East Trinity Masonic Lodge #157 and Fate Masonic Lodge #802 organized the project. Lodge members assembled and will deliver kits to the schools.

Prevent tooth decay kits contain: toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, healthy teeth sticker, two minute timer (optimal brushing time), “Tips for Healthy Teeth At Any Age” educational flyer for parents in both English and Spanish, and a 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.

Masonic Children & Family Services of Texas (MCFS) is a non-profit organization, with a history spanning more than 100 years, of helping children across 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 these problems result from lack of basic dental care.
• Referral and funding of the following services and more for qualified children:
o Medical, dental, and prescription services
o Tutoring, career counseling, tuition assistance, and educational scholarships
o Counseling and psychological services
o Information and referral services

Contact: Rhenda Gray Office: 903.665.8555 Cell: 817.980.2348 Email: rhenda@sundanceassociates.net