Oral Health Program: Resources

• Shared risk factors link oral health to diseases like cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.
• Oral health affects people physically and psychologically by influencing how they speak, chew, taste food, and socialize. The mouth must be kept healthy to function correctly.

• Commercial tobacco use (smoking tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and vaping)
• Alcohol use
• Poor nutrition such as high sugar intake
• Poor oral hygiene

• Dental cavities: Cavities, also known as dental caries or tooth decay, are caused by the breakdown of the tooth’s enamel by acids.
• Gum disease: Plaque grows below the gum line and irritates the gums. The teeth and gums separate, which causes the tissues and bones to break down around the mouth.
• Oral cancer: Oral cancer is found in the mouth and throat. It can appear as red or white patches, lumps, numbness, or swelling.

• Drink fluoridated water.
• Brush teeth twice per day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss teeth daily.
• Visit a dental provider at least once a year.
• Avoid commercial tobacco use.
• Limit alcohol use.
• Eat a healthy diet.

• Adult Oral Health National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), English-Spanish: Information for patients and caregivers on adult oral health topics. Learn more about burning mouth syndrome, dry mouth, diabetes and oral health, and temporomandibular joint syndrome.  Download or order free printed copies of publications.
• CDC Oral Health for Adults CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), English-Spanish: Information on adult oral health, chronic disease, and what adults can do to maintain their oral health.
• How To Take Care of Your Oral Health: Information on taking care of your teeth.

Antibiotics Before Dental Procedures, P-01966 (PDF): Information for patients about taking Antibiotics Before Dental Procedures.

Oral Health and Chronic Disease Prevention, P-02106 (PDF): Information on the connection between oral health and chronic disease.

Oral Health Affects General Health, P-00159 (PDF): Explains the relationship between general health and oral health.

Dementia-Friendly Dentists, P-01269a (PDF): Information on the changing oral health care needs of people living with dementia, how dementia-friendly dentists can help and access resources.

• One of the most common chronic diseases for children is tooth decay, also known as cavities.
• Cavities are painful and can lead to tooth breakdown. If left untreated, they can cause problems with eating, speaking, and learning.
• Cavities are expensive to fix and lead to missed school and lower grades.

Chances of cavities are higher if:

• Family members have cavities
• Sugary foods or drinks are eaten often
• Special health care needs (For example, taking medications, dry mouth, etc.)
• Braces, orthodontics, or oral appliances

Cavities are preventable!

• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Drink fluoridated water.
• Visit a dental provider at least once a year.
• Ask a dental provider to apply dental sealants.

How can parents help?

• Eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables.
• Limit sugars, starches, and unhealthy snacks.
• Help or supervise brushing of teeth to ensure proper amount of toothpaste is used and it isn’t swallowed.
• Develop healthy habits early as good oral health promotes well-being that can last a lifetime!

Check out the numbers!

• Approximately one in four of Wisconsin’s third graders have untreated tooth decay, P-00589 (PDF).
• After being applied, dental sealants provide protection against 80% of cavities for two years and 50% for up to four years.
• In Wisconsin, three in five third graders have at least one tooth that needs to be sealed.

Other resources

• Age 1 Dental Visit Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin (CHAW): Information on babies first dental visit.
• CDC Oral Health for Children CDC, English-Spanish: Information about tooth decay, what can be done to prevent it, and other oral health tips for parents and caregivers.
• Children's Oral Health NIDCR, English-Spanish: Information on children's oral health topics.  Download or order free printed copies of publications.
• Mouth Healthy: Water is the Best Beverage for Your Teeth ADA: Learn four reasons why water is the best beverage for healthy teeth.  Download holiday craft and activity sheets and explore more activities to engage kids in tooth-healthy topics.
• Healthy Habits for Happy Smiles Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center, English-Spanish: Simple oral health tips for pregnant women and parents of infants and young children. Learn how to talk to the dentist about anesthesia or sedation used to treat a child's tooth decay and locate downloadable oral health resources for families.
• Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile (SAS), English-Spanish: local school-based oral health programs that provide preventive dental care to children in more than 850 schools across Wisconsin. Learn more about the program and sign your child up for services.

Protect Tiny Teeth, Milestones for Mini-Mouths: Infographic, P-90034a, English-Spanish: Information on caring for your baby's mouth from newborn to age 1.

Medicaid HealthCheck Brochure, P-01007 (PDF): Brochure explaining your child's Medicaid benefit called HealthCheck, what it means and how to schedule an appointment.

Children's Oral Health, P-44534 (PDF): Fact sheet explaining children's oral health and how parents can help children take care of their oral health.

Protect Tiny Teeth: Poster, P-90034 (PDF), English-Spanish: Poster illustrating the importance of caring for baby's gums.

During pregnancy, many parts of your body go through physical changes, including your mouth.

• Pregnancy cravings can cause changes in your eating habits, which put you at risk of developing cavities. Snacking can occur more often and consist of sweets, which create the perfect environment for cavities to develop.
• Morning sickness can cause tooth erosion due to stomach acid in the mouth.

• Gingivitis causes the gums to become swollen, red, and bleed easily.
• Tooth erosion happens when acid exposure wears down the tooth’s enamel.
• Dental cavities, also known as dental caries or tooth decay, are caused by the breakdown of the tooth’s enamel by acids.
• Periodontitis occurs when plaque grows below the gum line and irritates the gums. The teeth and gums separate which causes the tissues and bones to break down in the mouth.

• Brush your teeth at least twice per day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss your teeth at least once per day.
• Rinse your mouth with 1 tsp of baking soda mixed in a glass of water after being sick to help with morning sickness.
• Drink fluoridated water. Fluoridated water reduces tooth decay in children and adults by about 25%.
• Make an appointment to see a dentist. Dental visits and dental x-rays are safe during pregnancy.

Oral health matters!

• Poor oral health is linked to preeclampsia, preterm births, and low birth weight.
• Wisconsin ranks 31st in the U.S. for preterm deliveries and 34th for low birth weights.
• Between 2016–2020, 48.9% of mothers in Wisconsin reported receiving a dental cleaning during their pregnancy.
• By visiting your dentist, you and your baby will be protected!

Other resources

• Dental Care During Pregnancy is Safe and Important (PDF), AAP and Children's Dental Health Project: Fact sheet explaining the safety and importance of dental care during pregnancy and provides tips on oral care.
• First Breath, Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation: Wisconsin’s free program to help people make positive changes to their commercial tobacco, alcohol, and substance use during pregnancy and beyond.
• Oral Health Campaign Toolkit, AAP: Customizable materials for patient outreach and education around oral health as well as clinical resources to help integrate oral health into practice.

Brushing for Two: Infographic, P-90033a, English-Spanish: Fact sheet containing information about caring for a pregnant person's mouth.

Oral Health During Pregnancy, P-00137 (PDF): Learn how oral health changes during pregnancy, understand why oral health matters, and find tips to keep a pregnant person and their baby healthy.

Provider Guide: Questions Moms are Asking About Oral Health, P-90032, English-Spanish: Trifold brochure answers questions about oral health during pregnancy and caring for an infant's mouth.

Brushing for Two: Poster, P-90033, English-Spanish: Reminds pregnant people to get a dental check-up before delivery.

Diabetes affects oral health in several ways:

• High blood sugar increases the risk for infections.
• Infections make it harder to control blood sugar.
• High blood sugar or uncontrolled diabetes promotes the growth of bacteria that can cause gum diseases.
• Dry mouth is common in people with diabetes and can lead to cavities.

Oral symptoms of diabetes:

• Dry mouth
• Burning sensation or painful white patches in the mouth
• Delayed healing
• Increased rate and severity of infections

Tips to relieve dry mouth

• Talk to your medical provider about managing diabetes and the medications that you take.
• Sip water or sugarless drinks often.
• Chew sugarless gum to increase saliva production.
• Avoid spicy or salty foods.
• Avoid drinking caffeine.
• Avoid alcohol and commercial tobacco products.

People with diabetes are at higher risk of gum diseases.

Gingivitis causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily.

Periodontitis occurs when plaque grows below the gum line and irritates the gums. The teeth and gums separate, which causes the tissues and bones to break down around the mouth. This can lead to tooth loss.

• Brush your teeth twice per day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss daily.
• Visit your dental provider for regular check-ups and tell them if you have diabetes.
• Avoid commercial tobacco use.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Monitor your blood sugar level and take your medications as directed.
• Check your mouth regularly for any problems.

Oral Health Affects General Health, P-00159 (PDF) DHS publication: Explains the relationship between general health and oral health.

• Live Vape Free Educational Program: Parents, guardians or other adults who want to help a teen in their life quit e-cigarettes can start the Live Vape Free online course and receive tools to help them support the teen in their life through their quit journey.  Download and  print Live Vape Free- Adult Poster and Live Vape Free-Teen Poster.
• Tobacco is Changing: Information on how commercial Tobacco is Changing, identifying new products, understand marketing tactics, tobacco data and how to talk to kids about commercial tobacco.
• Smoking and Tobacco Use CDC, English-Spanish: Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases and affecting the health of smokers in general.

• Cancer is when cells in the body begin to grow out of control.
• Oral cancer is found in the mouth and throat, and can affect breathing, talking, eating, chewing, swallowing, and digesting food.

Oral pre-cancer is a tissue change in the mouth that may become cancer. It can appear as white, gray, or red areas in the mouth. This condition should be evaluated by your dentist or medical provider to determine its importance.

• Commercial tobacco use (smoking tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and possibly vaping)
• Alcohol use
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
• Excess body weight
• Sun exposure or ultraviolet light
• Poor nutrition

• Red or white patches in mouth
• Sore throat or feeling like something is caught in your throat
• Lumps or irritation in lip, mouth, or throat
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking
• Difficulty moving jaw or tongue
• Swelling of jaw
• Numbness of tongue or other areas of the mouth
• Ear pain

If symptoms occur for two or more weeks, please see a dentist or medical provider.

• Avoid commercial tobacco use.
• Limit alcohol use.
• Maintain a healthy weight and diet.
• Limit exposure to the sun or ultraviolet light.
• Get vaccinated against HPV.
• Visit the dentist regularly for oral cancer screenings.

Remember, many oral cancers are preventable.

• Head and Neck Cancers, National Cancer Institute: Information on head and neck cancers, their causes, symptoms, and treatments.
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Oropharyngeal Cancer, CDC, English-Spanish: Information on HPV (Human Papillomavirus) and oropharyngeal cancer.
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine and HPV-Related Cancers: Learn about HPV vaccine and health care professional resources.
• Oral Cancer, NIDCR, English: Describes risk factors, signs and symptoms of oral cancer, and the importance of detecting the disease in its early stages.
• Oral Cancer Exam, NIDCR: Describes the steps of an oral cancer examination so patients know what to expect.

Oral Cancer, P-00216 (PDF)

DHS publication: Fact sheet explaining oral cancer, its connection to oral health, symptoms, causes, prevention and Wisconsin facts.