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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 Cook: Real men CAN eat quiche

Real men shouldn’t eat quiche! Quiche has eggs, bacon, and cheese in the filling and butter in the crust. That’s a lot of high-calorie foods in one dish. Men need energy to keep them going without adding inches to their waistlines. “Energy density” is the key to feeling full and having plenty of get-up-and-go without…
Editor’s Dose: Take a little personal time

As moms, we often find ourselves putting our needs on the backburner in order to take care of the people that matter most to us. I find this fact to also be true in dads, especially my husband. He doesn’t like to draw attention to himself or things that might be bothering him. He just…
Word of Mouth: Oral cancer: Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Cancer can affect any part of your body, and the mouth is no exception. While oral cancer can be caused by damaging behaviors such as the use of tobacco or alcohol, it can still occur without explanation. Oral cancer is much more prevalent than believed, and this unfortunately means that it’s often not diagnosed until…