Why is Oral important? Keys to Good Oral Health Having a healthy mouth and teeth are • Brush twice-a-day using very important to your overall health with in it and well-being. , gum , infections and oral cancer • Floss at least once a day can be very expensive to treat and can • Eat healthy meals, drink water and cause serious health problems. milk instead of juice and soda, and • Tooth decay (dental caries) is the limit snacks between meals most common chronic disease • Drink water with fluoride in it West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources among U.S. children • Take children to the at age • Many families, and especially one, or when their first tooth appears older adults, can’t afford or don’t have dental insurance • Visit your dentist for regularly scheduled cleanings • Oral cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and has a high death rate

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), poor Oral Health Program oral health can also be related to West Virginia Department of Health serious problems like lung disease, and Human Resources heart disease, diabetes and can even cause problems during . Bureau for Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health www.dhhr.wv.gov/oralhealth

1-800-642-8522

The mission of the Oral Health Program is to promote and improve the oral health of all West Virginians. What is the Oral Health Program? What does the Oral Health Prevention Strategies The goals of the Oral Health Program are: Program do? Many oral health can be • Provides the public with education prevented. For a healthy mouth, the 1 To educate the public about the and supplies for good oral health, like Oral Health Program supports daily importance of oral health and fluoride supplements and water test kits brushing and flossing, regular visits to how to properly take care of your the dentist, dental sealants and using mouth and teeth • Builds community partnerships to teeth-strengthening fluoride. promote and support state and local Protecting your mouth and teeth from To help connect the public to oral health programs and policies 2 injury is also very important. reliable oral healthcare • Helps communities develop school- Mouthguards can help save teeth

based dental services and protect the jaw from breaks. The To keep track of the overall oral 3 National Youth Sports Foundation for health of West Virginians • Provides oral supplies and education materials to organizations Safety reports that an athlete is 60 The Oral Health Program has developed across the state times more likely to damage teeth three projects to help its goals: when not wearing a mouthguard. • Promotes and supports dental services • Children’s and access to affordable dental care • Donated Denture • Keeps track of dental disease rates in • Pre-Employment the state Working with other state agencies and • Guarantees a sizable and skilled community partners, these projects promote oral health workforce the importance of good oral health and • Evaluates effectiveness, help prevent diseases. availability and quality of oral health programs and services