Oral Health

Oral health means much more than healthy teeth. It means being free of chronic pain, cancers, lesions, birth defects (such as cleft lip and palate), and scores of other diseases and disorders that affect the oral, dental, and craniofacial tissues. Also, oral health is essential to general health. You cannot be healthy without good oral health.

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.

K-12 Oral Health Education Curriculum (Powerpoint Presentations)

The Department of Health and Senior Services is pleased to be able to offer these oral health education powerpoint presentations designed specifically for Kindergarten-High School Seniors. These presentations can be downloaded free-of-charge by clicking on the grade(s) specific icons.  These presentations can be used by school health nurses or teachers, as well as by other health care/child care professionals, in conjunction with their health curriculum.

Kindergarten
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4 Updated
Grade 5
Grades 6-8
Grades 9-12