Oral health care should be at the center of our health care strategy and tactics. We keep learning more about how major, devastating, and very costly illnesses

Oral health care should be at the center of our health care strategy and tactics. We keep learning more about how major, devastating, and very costly illnesses have origins -- contributory or principal -- in oral illness. That we haven't already acted on this, speaks to the disfunction of our health care system. Here in the U.S., for me, but also in other countries whose "universal health care" excludes dental health. Cosmetics may be another matter. But oral health? It needs to be covered. A primary factor in preventive care. And also, the people who make (very good) livings shoveling sugar to kids -- especially, going around parents' controls and wishes -- need a good, hard looking at.