SDFHC Encourages Good Oral Health Care During National Smile Month

Santa Clarita, Calif., May 21, 2008 – Samuel Dixon Family Health Centers, Inc. reminds us that good oral health is an important part of good overall health, during National Smile Month May 18 – June 17.

Growing evidence demonstrates a significant link between good oral health care and good overall body health. This body of evidence also points to a strong relationship between gum disease and chronic health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, renal disease, diabetes and, in the case of pregnant women, low birth weight babies. SDFHC offers specific programs and services related to health care management at its locations throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that tooth decay is one of the most common chronic infectious diseases among U.S. children. This preventable health problem begins early: 28 percent of children aged 2 to 5 years have already had decay in their primary (baby) teeth. Nearly one-third of all adults in the United States have untreated tooth decay. One in seven adults aged 35 to 44 years has gum disease; this increases to one in every four adults aged 65 years and older.

The American Dental Association recommends the following guidelines for good oral health: Brush your teeth twice a day; clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner; eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks; and visit the dentist for regular cleanings and oral exams.

SDFHC can help children’s oral health through the Child Health and Disability Prevention program, in which oral screenings are provided for patients. Additionally, SDFHC can help patients' families to find a dentist.

For more information about the month-long campaign, visit www.nationalsmileweek.org.

SDFHC operates three health centers in the Santa Clarita Valley—Canyon Country Health Center, Val Verde Health Center and Newhall Health Center—as well as outreach sites at College of the Canyons and California Institute of the Arts. SDFHC offers a full range of health care services—physicals, immunizations and vaccines, screenings and diagnostic tests, well baby care, and family planning—to those who may not seek health care elsewhere. Patients pay based on their income. This past year, SDFHC provided service for 8,000 patient visits.

SDFHC was established in 1980 and named for long-time Val Verde resident and minister, the late Reverend Samuel Dixon. A not-for-profit community health center, SDFHC serves the greater Santa Clarita Valley, and is governed by a twenty-member board of directors, all of whom are Santa Clarita residents. The mission of SDFHC is to enhance wellness by providing quality primary health care services and health education to unserved and underserved residents, with a special emphasis on serving the uninsured. Easily accessible services are available for the entire family in both English and Spanish. Medi-Cal, Blue Cross and Healthy Families are all accepted, and a sliding fee scale is offered, keeping health care affordable for all. Services are available at the Val Verde Health Center (661-257-4008), the Canyon Country Health Center (661-424-1220) and the Newhall Health Center (661-291-1777).

SDFHC receives United Way funding and is supported by countless individuals as well as corporate sponsors who help make affordable health care possible. Tax-deductible contributions are welcome.