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The Neighborhood Health Clinic (Clinic) – a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization providing Collier County’s working, uninsured residents affordable medical and dental care – is celebrating National Hygiene Month this October by encouraging individuals throughout Collier County to take time each day to focus on oral care. “Celebrated each October, National Dental Hygiene Month is a great way to thank dental hygienists for the role they play in our overall health, as well as reminder to schedule our annual check-up/cleaning and recommit to the daily habits the reinforce oral health,” Clinic CEO Leslie Lascheid explains. Most dentists recommend: -Annual check-up with cleaning -Brushing for two minutes twice a day -Flossing daily National Dental Hygiene Month was launched in 2009 as a way to focus on oral health and to thank hygienists for the work they do in preserving the overall health and wellbeing of their patients. “Despite waiting until 2009 to establish National Dental Hygiene Month, humans have clearly understood the link between dental and oral health since ancient times,” concludes Lascheid, as research shows: - The first toothbrushes date to about 3000 BC and were actually “chew sticks” – a thin twig with frayed end to rub against teeth -In 1498 China invented a “bristle toothbrush” made of boar’s hair bristles with a bone or bamboo handle -Around 1780 William Addis of England made the first mass-produced toothbrush -In 1938 nylon bristled brushes were introduced by Dupont de Nemours To best meet the healthcare needs of Collier County’s uninsured workers, the Clinic opened an expanded Dental Suite on March 18, 2019, with dentists Dr. Jeannie Moran and Dr. Thomas Brick providing services to current Clinic patients. Featuring four dental operatories and a classroom for one-on-one patient education, the Suite compliments the Clinic’s specialty clinics, including Cardiology, Endocrinology, Lipids, Neurology, Hepatitis C, GYN, on-site Medication Room and more. Nearly 700 volunteers ensure the Neighborhood Health Clinic provides the highest quality affordable medical and dental care to working, uninsured adults (aged 19-64) residing in Collier County: -Performed more than 27,095 patient procedures in fiscal year of 2018 -Provided more than 11,000 patient visits with working, uninsured men and women in 2018 and more than 107,000 since opening -Offers access to general medical practitioners; specialty clinics for complex and chronic conditions and dentists -Provides onsite laboratory basic tests for established patients -Offers patient education and research projects -Volunteer-driven: 250 physicians, 35 dentists, 6 hygienists, 100 nurses and 300 non-medical personnel -A 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that has received the coveted Four-Star Charity Navigator rating 6 years in a row and Guidestar’s 2018 Platinum Seal of Transparency To learn more information the Neighborhood Health Clinic’s Dental program, please call 239.261.6600, or visit www.NeighborhoodHealthClinic.org.