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To smile or not to smile

Dr. Karen Teston and other local experts on oral hygiene and your overall health Some folks are afraid of pain. Some know they haven’t done a good job of taking care of their teeth, and don’t want to be lectured. Still others lack cash. Whatever the reason, many avoid the dentist until an emergency arises.…
Community outreach programs make check-ups more available

Free dental exams, preventative tooth care, and more Several outreach programs in Polk County recently offered free dental exams and other tooth services to spread awareness about the need for dental health care. At the Haines City Dental Clinic, the Florida Department of Health in Polk County (FDOH-Polk) offered free comprehensive dental exams to children…
Helping make the healthier choice, the easier choice

About the Building a Healthier Polk initiative Building a Healthier Polk is a group of community partners brought together by Polk Vision who are working towards the goal of reducing the obesity rate in Polk County. Polk Vision is a broad, community-led partnership of organizations, businesses, government, and individuals. In 2012, Polk Vision’s Quality of…

Healthy Skin: Give your body a gift after the holidays — inside and out

IT’S THAT TIME of year again. Huge dinners and parties with family and co-workers, and yet dieting is on your mind. We all think it and maybe you are considering a gym membership (again). Holiday stress, late nights, and too much alcohol have all taken a toll, and you need help. You are determined that…
Word of Mouth: Resolve to have better teeth this year

’TIS THE SEASON for resolutions, and the most common resolutions that people make is for better health. If your resolution this year includes a commitment to being the healthiest you possible, then you need to start with your dental health.
The Heart of the Matter: A heart-to-heart talk about genuine resolutions

WE’VE ALL been guilty of it at least once before. The New Year comes and goes, and we say to ourselves, “This year will be different. I’m going to get healthy.” And then, inevitably, nothing happens. Why? Because the resolution was so general it is easy to forget or push aside the moment the holidays…