[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH

                                 ______


                          HON. CHARLIE NORWOOD

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 1, 1996

  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two events which 
have helped to keep America smiling over the years. The year 1996 marks 
the 55th year of annual recognition of the importance of children's 
dental health. It also marks the 100th anniversary of Johnson & 
Johnson's dental floss product.
  The annual observance of children's dental health began as a 1-day 
event in Cleveland, OH, on February 3, 1941. On February 8, 1949, the 
American Dental Association held the first national observance of 
Children's Dental Health Day. This single day observance became a week-
long event in 1995. By 1981, the program was extended to a month-long 
celebration known today as National Children's Dental Health Month.
  As far back as 1850 dental references recommended the use of ``waxen 
silken floss.'' In 1896, Johnson & Johnson introduced its dental floss 
by advertising in dental journals. It was a welcome alternative to the 
popular method of treating gum disease at the time--live leeches. The 
product was originally made out of silk--the same silk that was used in 
the company's surgical sutures. During World War II, with silk in great 
demand for parachutes, Johnson & Johnson began manufacturing its floss 
using nylon. Today, its floss is available in a wide variety of forms 
and flavors. Flossing removes plaque, a sticky colorless substance that 
forms on your teeth, from places that cannot be reached by a 
toothbrush. If plaque isn't removes, especially from below the gum 
line, the bacteria in the plaque can attack the surrounding gums and 
supporting bone. Flossing is an integral part of proper tooth and gum 
care, and is considered by organizations such as the American Dental 
Association and American Dental Hygienists' Association to be a major 
preventative measure against gum disease and tooth decay.
  Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the House and as a dentist, let me stress 
that flossing is as important for children as it is for adults. 
Pediatric dentists have found that during the cavity prone years of 
childhood, flossing morning and night can actually reverse the earliest 
stages of tooth decay by allowing the tooth enamel to reharden.
  Attitudes and habits established at an early age are critical in 
maintaining good oral health throughout life. During National 
Children's Dental Health Month, I urge parents to make sure their 
children are following a good oral healthcare program that includes 
regular brushing and flossing. I also urge everyone to visit their oral 
healthcare professional to learn how to properly care for their teeth 
and gums.
  I ask my colleagues to join me as I salute the American Dental 
Association for their continued responsibility and dedication to the 
health and well-being of America's children, and to congratulate 
Johnson & Johnson for a century of giving Americans a healthy smile.

                          ____________________