HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE -- Hot Springs Village Rotary Club welcomed Drs. Stephen Raines and Lauren Raines, a husband-and-wife dental team at the Village Dental Group, to its Jan. 10 meeting.
Both doctors stressed the fact that oral health is connected to overall health.
They said that the key is being proactive rather than reactive, as dental health affects a person's life. Stephen Raines said, "If your teeth are not fully functional, it affects your nutrition because you can't eat the foods you want. In addition, your smile affects your confidence."
He added that often oral problems can be addressed if they are caught in time. "Early detection of oral cancer can save your life," he said, adding that almost 50,000 Americans are diagnosed each year and "only 57 percent of them will be alive in five years" because oral cancer is aggressive.
Avoiding dental problems starts at home, Lauren Raines said. She stated that many people have questions like whether they are brushing correctly and if flossing is necessary. Both of them agreed it is better to avoid the mindset of "Nothing is bothering me so I'll just wait until it hurts" and instead to have regular dental checkups.
Guests are always welcome at the Hot Springs Village Rotary Club, which meets in the Fireside Dining Room at Good Sam's, 121 Cortez Road, Thursdays at 7 a.m.
Society on 01/20/2019