Oral Health Promotion
Explore information and strategies Head Start staff can use to improve parents’ understanding of oral health’s impact on learning and to promote positive oral health practices in the classroom.
Tooth decay is the most common childhood disease, but it's preventable. Children with dental pain can have trouble speaking clearly, eating, and learning. Resources in this collection cover the health of the mouth including the teeth, gums, and oral-facial system that allows us to smile, speak, and chew.
These resources highlight some of the most common diseases that affect oral health, including tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer.
Explore information and strategies Head Start staff can use to improve parents’ understanding of oral health’s impact on learning and to promote positive oral health practices in the classroom.
Review this tip sheet to learn why dental visits at age 1 are key to a child’s healthy development. Find ways to explain to parents what happens during the dental visit.
Explore why some parents may fear dental visits and avoid seeking care. Find tips on ways parents can overcome their fears.
Going to the dental office or clinic is a new and unfamiliar experience for children. Learn tips for helping young children prepare for a dental visit.
Share this information with parents to help them ask the dentist if anesthesia or sedation should be used to treat their child’s tooth decay and what type should be used to make treatment safe and effective.
Discover information that Head Start staff can share with parents about how Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) works.
Use this form to help pregnant women share important information about their pregnancy and oral health with dental office staff. It can help dental office staff best meet pregnant women’s oral health needs.
Parents can use this form to share information about their child with dental office staff to help them meet the child’s needs. Find questions about things that might bother the child about visiting the dentist.
Program staff and families are encouraged to explore where and how the Performance Standards address oral health.
Use these forms to document dental home information and current oral health status and services; such as diagnostic and preventive services, counseling, restorative and emergency care, and referral to a specialist.