Marillac gives kids free dental service

February is Dental Health Awareness month, and the Marillac Clinic provided free service for children in need on Thursday.

The Give Kids a Smile event is for Mesa County's low-income and uninsured children.

The event focuses on the epidemic of oral diseases among disadvantaged kids.

Dentists were on hand to teach youngsters about healthy brushing habits and provide free cleanings and exams.

They said aside from oral diseases, tooth decay can cause sleeplessness and trouble with eating; problems which could lead to additional health issues and even cause trouble in school.

"I like to say the tooth bone is connected to the heart bone is connected to your whole body, so the teeth are not separate," said Kathryn Hart, a Pediatric Dentist for the Marillac Clinic.

"If your teeth aren't healthy you're not going to be able to eat properly, you're not going to have proper nutrition. If they hurt you're not going to be able to concentrate at school, you're going to have more missed days from school," Hart explained.

Dentists also said having bad looking teeth can lead to self-esteem issues, making it harder for kids to socialize with their peers.

The event went from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Hart said about 130 kids were able to take advantage of the free day of service. Marillac had five dentists working throughout the day to meet their needs.

The clinic holds the Give Kids a Smile event once a year.