Gurdon youth wins Diamond State Smiles Club regional raffle

GURDON, Arkansas — The Arkansas Oral Health Coalition (AROHC), in partnership with the Gurdon Wellness Center Dental Clinic, announced that Clark County resident Willy Garlin is the raffle winner of the Arkansas Diamond State Smiles Club (DSSC) contest for the 5-12 years age range.

Garlin was awarded a bike and helmet. The DSSC contest is hosted by the AROHC, and funding for prizes was provided by the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation to encourage children to visit a dentist twice a year for preventive oral health care such as checkups and cleanings. The DSSC contest will continue until February 2025. To learn more about the DSSC, or to enter, visit https://www.arohc.com/dssc.

Healthy teeth are important not just for smiles, but a child’s overall health. Tooth problems such as decay and cavities can harm a child’s self-esteem and cause pain that can contribute to missed school and impact learning. Poor oral health in childhood can also have lifelong implications; for example, children who have a history of tooth decay have a greater risk of developing heart problems in adulthood.

Data from the National Survey of Children’s Health show that one in four Arkansas children did not visit the dentist for preventive care in 2020-2021. In addition, according to the 2023 3rd Grade Basic Screening Survey, nearly 60% of Arkansas children had decay experience, while an estimated 18% had untreated decay. Factors that contribute to these oral health indicators include a high number of dental care “deserts,” high rates of uninsured or under-insured populations, high consumption of sugary foods, and lack of daily toothbrushing.

Twice daily toothbrushing, along with twice yearly visits to the dentist for preventive care such as checkups and cleanings, can reduce or prevent many oral health problems that children may experience.

The Arkansas Oral Health Coalition is a voluntary not-for-profit organization representing oral health interests throughout Arkansas. The mission of the AROHC is to promote sound oral health policy, increase awareness of oral health issues, and provide oral health education to the citizens of Arkansas. Visit www.arohc.com for more information.