HANDS Clinic in St. Lucie Council makes push to distribute toothbrushes to kids � TCPalm.com

In mostly fluoridated St. Lucie County, Florida, HANDS Clinic in St. Lucie Council makes push to distribute toothbrushes to kids � TCPalm.com: She said last year, 7 percent of the children screened needed emergency dental care. "They had teeth rotted off at the gums."

Pantano said 30 percent of the children in last year's five-school HANDS program had tooth decay, 31 percent had poor oral hygiene and only 32 percent overall had good oral hygiene.

"This year in the same schools, 1 percent needed emergency care, we still have 33 percent with decay, but some has been repaired," Pantano said, explaining that some children have multiple problems that will take time to address. "Sometimes they have as many as 14 cavities in 20 teeth."

But only 6 percent of the children this year had poor oral hygiene and 60 percent had good oral hygiene, she said.

The need is constant for toothbrushes and other oral care products to distribute needy children.