Hagler the hippopotamus opens wide for visitors to his home in the Tobe Zoological Park in Japan. Keepers scrub his pearly whites—an important part of keeping the captive hippo healthy.
But animals are not the only ones whose teeth need a good brushing. Just like in animals, too much bacteria in a person’s mouth can cause plaque. Plaque can harden into tartar and harm the gums.
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Dentists and other experts remind kids of the damage too many sweets can do. Poor oral health causes U.S. students to miss 51 million hours of school each year!