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Rock That SMILE!

Every February, the American Dental Association wants to raise awareness about oral health with National Children's Dental Health Month. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. Here are some tips to keep that smile rockin'!
BRUSH UP ON YOUR BRUSHING
Brushing three times a day is best, but your child should at least brush in the morning and at bedtime. Brushing right before bed is especially important because at night there is no saliva or jaw movements to help sweep away food particles.
FLOSS ON
Flossing is an important part of your child's dental hygiene routine, too. Parents should begin flossing their child's teeth as soon the first teeth touch each other, which could be as early as age 1 or 2. By age 6 or 7, kids can begin flossing on their own, but just be certain that they are using the proper technique. You can ask a dentist during a regular check up to show older children the proper way to floss their teeth.
MAKE IT FUN, NOT A CHORE
Make your kid's daily brushing routine fun and rewarding with these simple tips:
- Choose toothpaste and dental rinses in flavors designed to be more appealing to kids.
- Keep a variety of toothbrushes on hand so that your child can choose each day which one she wants to use. Or have a different toothbrush for each time throughout the day she has to brush. Other clever tips include investing in an inexpensive electric children's toothbrush or animal-shaped floss holders.
- Create a reward system for daily brushing success, especially if your child is just beginning to brush on his own.
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KIDS WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Doctors are starting to see high blood pressure in children as young as 3. A recent study found that too much time playing games or watching TV may be to blame. The best way to keep your child's numbers in check is to make sure he or she gets regular physical activity. Kids need at least 60 minutes of exercise every day. Playing basketball, riding a bike or jumping rope are all great physical activities - plus, they're FUN!
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JakeBreak4Kids at Jefferson Middle JakeBreak4Kids was on the scene this past Friday at Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge. We were part of the awesome health fair put on by Volunteer State Health Plan and Tennessee Coordinated Health. Kids got to spin the Wheel of Fitness, do some fun exercises, and learn about hydration. It was a great way to spend a Friday! Kim Pemberton showed the kids just how much sugar is in a regular soda (a lot!). Team JakeBreak got the Jefferson Middle School gym rockin' with some fun exercises! |
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JB4Kids at Strong City Sports Fest
Jake and his team set up shop at the Strong City Sports Fest this past Saturday. There was something for everyone at the event. The Grove Center in Oak Ridge was the setting for all kinds of exercise, entertainment and excitement. The inaugural Sports Fest was organized By Ginger Nunamaker with East Tennessee Sports Expo. |
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Diabetes (medically known as diabetes mellitus) is the name given to disorders in which the body has trouble regulating its blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels.
There are two major types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a disorder of the body's immune system -- that is, its system for protecting itself from viruses, bacteria or any "foreign" substances. A third form of diabetes, called monogenic diabetes, is sometimes mistaken for type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys certain cells in the pancreas, an organ about the size of a hand that is located behind the lower part of the stomach. These cells -- called beta cells- are contained, along with other types of cells, within small islands of endocrine cells called the pancreatic islets. Beta cells normally produce insulin, a hormone that helps the body move the glucose contained in food into cells throughout the body, which use it for energy. But when the beta cells are destroyed, no insulin can be produced, and the glucose stays in the blood instead, where it can cause serious damage to all the organ systems of the body.
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JB4Kids at Bronco Celebration
Spring was in full bloom last weekend in the Smoky Mountains. And so was the Bronco Driver Magazine Bronco Super Celebration in Townsend, TN. Dotting the field at the Tally Ho Inn were hundreds of vintage Broncos of every make, model, size and color! I even brought Snowball, the JB4Kids official vehicle.
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I ♥ February
February is heart month - and not just because of Valentine's Day! The American Heart Association wants to spread the word this month about cardiovascular diseases by encouraging heart-healthy habits. They plan to do this by reducing the growth of obesity, reducing untreated high blood pressure, encouraging people to stop smoking, to start exercising and take steps to reduce their cholesterol.
It sounds complicated, but it's not. Make sure you get lots of exercise, stay away from fried & fatty foods and don't smoke. Tell somebody you love about Heart Month. It's a matter of the heart!
~Jake
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2nd Expo Huge Success!
What a day!! The 2nd Methodist Medical JakeBreak4Kids Expo was Saturday, August 29th, and I'm still smiling! I'm pretty sure I had the most fun that day!
The music was awesome, the weather cooperated and everyone had a great time!  Kids got to climb up the climbing wall, play fun games, run over hay bales in a steeplechase, ride bikes and unicycles, check out some cool critters, bounce on inflatables, dance, and have fun! |
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Swim+Bike+Run = FUN! Atomic Kids Triathlon The JakeBreak4Kids team spent the morning helping out with the Atomic Kids Triathlon in Oak Ridge. |
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Litter Bugs Me! The JakeBreak4Kids team adopted a road here in Oak Ridge. Adopting a road is easy - you contact your city, pick out a road, then go pick up trash. The road we adopted is Lafayette Drive. We found all kinds of things like pieces & parts of a car, a key, and even a quarter! But what we found the most were cigarette butts and soda bottles. Yuck! There are things you can do to help out. First off - don't be a litterbug. Put your trash in the trash can and your recyclables in recycle bins. And if your family or friends litter, remind them that someone has to pick it up. Join the JakeBreak4Kids team in making every day Earth Day! |
It's BIG! It's ORANGE! And It Could Be YOURS! Orange Crush is a vintage 1969 Bronco - and you could win it! Next April, Knoxville-based BRONCO DRIVER Magazine is raffling off Orange Crush to one lucky winner! The proceeds are going to help JakeBreak4Kids crush childhood obesity. This Spring, Jake took Orange Crush out for a spin. This rockin' video shows Jake and Orange Crush in action! |
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