The health of your mouth is important to your total health and well-being. Good oral health helps you eat nutritious foods, speak well and have a positive self-image. Untreated oral diseases can cause pain, leading to missed work or school and a change in your appearance. In addition, researchers are learning how oral diseases may be linked to other serious health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease and preterm low birth weight babies. If not treated, oral diseases may lead to infections in other parts of the body.
Most oral diseases can be prevented by following these steps:
Brush and floss your teeth daily to remove bacteria that cause disease.
Use fluoridated toothpaste to prevent cavities.
Get regular dental visits, including a check of your mouth for oral cancer.
Oral health and young children
Did you know that babies are not born with the bacteria in their mouths that cause tooth decay? Rather, those germs are transmitted to the baby from the mother or other caregiver by sharing eating utensils or by cleaning off a dropped pacifier with the mothers or caregivers saliva. If the mother or caregiver has cavities, the baby may acquire a high number of decay-causing bacteria, putting the baby at risk for Early Childhood Caries. This is a serious disease that can cause children to lose their baby teeth too soon due to extensive tooth decay, possibly leading to growth problems, delayed speech and poor self-esteem.
Here are some tips to make sure your babys oral health gets off to a good start and your baby does not develop Early Childhood Caries:
Take your baby to the dentist by 1 year of age.
Never give your baby a bottle at naptime or nighttime that contains milk, formula, juice or sweetened drinks. If you must give your baby a bottle at sleep time, fill it with plain water.
Use a soft toothbrush or washcloth to clean your babys teeth after each feeding.
Ask your dentist or doctor about the need for fluoride.
Oral health and school-aged children
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children. In Ohio, dental care is the number one unmet health care need. Oral health problems among children are mostly preventable. In addition to drinking fluoridated water, daily brushing with fluoridated toothpaste, flossing, a nutritious diet and regular checkups, follow these steps to ensure that your child enjoys good oral health:
Ask your dentist about dental sealants for your childs teeth. Dental sealants are the most effective way to prevent the most common type of tooth decay seen today in at-risk children.
Make sure your child wears a mouth guard when playing all contact sports.
Finding dental care
Many people in Ohio have trouble getting dental care because they cant afford the cost and dont have dental insurance. Many private dental offices do not accept Medicaid. Fortunately, Ohio has more than 100 safety net dental clinics that serve lower-income families. To find a safety net dental clinic near you, visit the Ohio Department of Health Web site at www.odh.ohio.gov and search for safety net clinics.
For more information about dental health programs in Ohio, contact the Bureau of Oral Health Services, ODH, at 614-466-4180 or at BOHS@odh.ohio.gov.
