Oral disease can be prevented but it must be a community wide effort, an effort that begins with you. Learn how your community can implement a program to prevent oral disease. Your path to better oral health begins with the Community Readiness Check List (Download PDF).
Oral health requires education, daily oral hygiene (which includes brushing and flossing), and good nutrition. Access to oral health care services, dentists or dental hygienists, remains a major issue, especially for Medicaid recipients and low-income persons across the state. Fluoride is the most effective source available to prevent tooth decay and community water fluoridation is an effective and efficient way to help the residents of any community, improve their oral health. Information on oral health care in Missouri, including prevention tips, finding a dentist, and insurance access »
AUDIO: Community Readiness Radio Message – Download MP3 file
AUDIO: Oral Health Radio Message - Download MP3 file
Stop the Pop! – Missouri Dental Association members are uniting to reverse the epidemic of dental disease among today’s youth – disease which can be caused by overconsumption of pop. Help Missouri dentists in their mission to Stop the Pop! Get the facts. Learn how tooth decay starts and what you can do to prevent it and improve your health.
Start Right: Parents Make the Difference – The Missouri Dental Association, through the Missouri Dental Foundation, is pleased to announce “Start Right: Parents Make the Difference; A practical guide to your baby’s dental health.” The new brochure includes information on the importance of baby teeth and emphasizes preventing early child cavities and gives tips for preventing decay. Also available in Spanish (PDF)
Oral Health Leads to Total Health - Investigate the strong links between oral health and general health. Find out how you can improve your quality of life through good oral health.
- For Kids. Among children, tooth decay is 5 times as common as asthma and 7 times as common as hay fever and more than 51 million school hours are lost each year because of dental-related illness. More facts about children’s oral health and tips for caregivers.
- For Adults. In the U.S., 30,000 people are diagnosed with throat and mouth cancer each year, and 8,000 die of these cancers and among adults aged 35-44, 48% have gingivitis. More facts about oral health and good prevention.
- For Community. One hundred million Americans do not have fluoridated water and more than 108 million Americans do not have dental insurance. More facts about fluoride and access to dental care.
- Oral Health A-Z. American Dental Association.