Ensuring Oral Health is a part of Early Learning
In order for children to be ready for school, they need to be healthy. Oral health is a critical part of a child’s health, growth, development and ability to learn.
Dental decay is the single most common chronic disease of early childhood. Left untreated, the pain and infection caused by tooth decay can lead to problems eating, sleeping and speaking. The good news is that dental disease is almost entirely preventable.
What policymakers can do:
- Protect funding for early learning programs, ECEAP and the Home Visiting Services Fund, that provide coordination for children’s health including oral health.
- Include oral health in regulations for licensed child care settings.
- Include oral health in training for early learning professionals.
Oral Health Watch
2h
Oral health is health and dental coverage is health coverage. The Apple Health adult dental program is essential to ensure lower-income residents living in Washington state can prevent oral disease and small dental problems from getting worse. #teethmatter #waleg
Oral Health Watch
3h
Oral health is health and dental coverage is health coverage. The Apple Health adult dental program is essential to ensure lower-income residents living in Washington state can prevent oral disease and small dental problems from getting worse. #teethmatter #waleg
Oral Health Watch
1d
WA state's Apple Health adult dental program helps keep people healthy. It helps prevent small problems from getting bigger & avoid needless pain from untreated cavities. Apple Health adult dental is not only good policy; it's the right thing to do #teethmatter #waleg
Untreated, often preventable, oral diseases send more than 2.1 million Americans to the emergency room each year, unnecessarily burdening the healthcare system. Preventive oral health care is critical to maintaining optimal overall health.
Oral Health Watch
1d
Water fluoridation benefits everyone - regardless of age, ethnicity and socioeconomic level. But it is especially beneficial for people who lack access to routine preventive dental care like seniors on fixed incomes, underserved communities and uncovered individuals. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
1d
Water fluoridation benefits everyone - regardless of age, ethnicity and socioeconomic level. But it is especially beneficial for people who lack access to routine preventive dental care like seniors on fixed incomes, underserved communities and uncovered individuals. #teethmatter
How can you help improve oral health equity in our state? Visit http://WashingtonWaterFluoridation.org to find and share important resources about community water fluoridation! #NationalFluorideDay
Oral Health Watch
2d
Thanks to water fluoridation - and communities like Grand Rapids, MI committed to public health - millions of Americans continue to experience the benefits of stronger teeth protected against cavities with the simple act of drinking fluoridated drinking water. #teethmatter
Today, January 25th is the 76th anniversary of water #fluoridation. Pictured is the water sculpture erected in Grand Rapids, MI, celebrating this historic public health measure.