Title: Oral Health Awareness Month

Summary: Recognizes February 2014 as "Oral Health Awareness Month" in Florida.

Full Text:
WHEREAS, dental decay is the most common chronic disease among children, times more common than asthma and early childhood obesity and 0 times more common than diabetes, and WHEREAS, children from low-income households suffer more dental decay than other children, and WHEREAS, untreated dental disease is linked to adverse health outcomes associated with diabetes, stroke, heart disease, bacterial pneumonia, preterm and low birth weight deliveries, and, in some instances, death, and WHEREAS, students miss more than million hours of school and employed adults lose more than million hours of work each year due to dental disease or de ntal care visits, and WHEREAS, in the United States from 1999 through 2004, dental decay affected percent of children at to years of age, percent of children at to years of age, and 23 percent of children at years of age, and WHEREAS, ac cess to dental care is associated with higher use of preventive and restorative dental services, NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Florida: That February 2014 is recognized as "Oral Health Awareness Month" in Florida, during which the residents of this state are called upon to participate in programs designed to educate citizens about the importance of good oral health.