Oral Health Facts
The following provide facts and information about the status of oral health in Washington.
Children’s Oral Health
- Dental disease is the single most common chronic childhood disease—five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever. Learn more from our oral health and school readiness fact sheet.
- Washington’s 2015-16 Smile Survey is the latest statewide assessment of children’s oral health. It shows that children’s oral health in Washington is improving, but further work remains to address racial, ethnic and socio-economic inequities. Learn more from our 2015-16 Smile Survey overview and the full report.
- Over the last two decades, the rate of Medicaid insured children under age 6 receiving dental has more than doubled, from 22% to 43%, and children are being seen earlier before disease starts. Learn more from our ABCD program fact sheet.
Senior’s Oral Health
- Only about half of Washington seniors see a dentist each year, and disparities are significant by income and race/ethnicity. Learn more from a recent survey of Washington seniors.
Community Water Fluoridation
- About three-quarters of the country receive the health benefits of fluoridated water. In Washington state, only about 56 percent of residents receive optimally fluoridated drinking water. Learn more from our fluoridation fact sheet.
Oral Health Watch
4h
The SmileMobile is on Whidbey Island this week and next. Thank you Arcora Foundation, Seattle Children's and Delta Dental of Washington for making the SmileMobile possible. #teethmatter
The SmileMobile is in Langley through April 14 this week and April 21 to 23 next week. Low income and uninsured people are invited to phone...
thisiswhidbey.comOral Health Watch
4h
👇#teethmatter
Apple Health (Medicaid) continues to cover dental care for both children and adults. For those who need care, DentistLink can connect them at no cost to a local dentist who accepts their insurance: https://dentistlink.org/
Oral Health Watch
23h
Pediatricians see kids as many as 9 times by the time they reach age 2 for well child visits. Integrating oral health into well child visits and other routine checkups helps identify problems early while underscoring that oral health is integral to overall health. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
1d
Pediatricians see a kid as much as 9 times by the time they're 2yo for well child visits. Integrating oral health into well child visits and other helps identify problems early while underscoring that oral health is integral to overall health. #teethmatter
It's Interprofessional Healthcare Month! Medical-dental integration improves access and "puts the mouth back in the body." MouthMatters trains pediatricians to integrate oral health services into well-child visits.
Learn more and contact us! 👇
https://arcorafoundation.org/preventing-dental-disease-in-pediatric-primary-care/
Oral Health Watch
2d
👇👏#teethmatter
We can't celebrate National Public Health Week without mentioning one of the top public health achievements! Community water fluoridation is a cost-effective, equitable way to prevent oral disease for all: https://washingtonwaterfluoridation.org/ #NPHW
Oral Health Watch
5d
Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play. Understanding how social determinants impact health can help us all identify and address health disparities and to promote overall health equity. #teethmatter #NPHW