March 20 Is World Oral Health Day
World Oral Health Day is celebrated on March 20 to empower people with the knowledge, tools, and confidence they need to help ensure good oral health. To promote this event, the FDI World Dental Federation encourages and supports activities aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of good oral health and of the impact of oral diseases on general health and on the economy.
Oral diseases are a major health concern for many countries and negatively impact people, health systems, and economies throughout the world. Oral diseases may lead to pain and discomfort, social isolation, and loss of self-confidence, and they are often linked to other serious health issues. But many oral diseases are preventable and treatable.
National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center
The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) is funded by the federal government to respond to the needs of professionals working in states and communities, with the goal of improving oral health care for pregnant women, infants, children, and adolescents, including those with special health care needs, and their families (the maternal and child health (MCH) population).
OHRC's website can be used to locate materials in the OHRC library, explore topics related to oral health for the MCH population, and share resources for consumers, and resources for professionals. Sign up for the resource center's monthly e-newsletter and e-mail discussion lists and contact OHRC for further assistance.
Healthy People 2030 Champion
OHRC is pleased to be recognized by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a Healthy People 2030 Champion, having demonstrated a commitment to helping achieve the Healthy People 2030 vision of a society in which all people can realize their full potential for health and well-being across the lifespan.
Preventive Dental Visits for Children and Adolescents Are Important
Children and adolescents with poor oral health are more likely to have oral pain, miss school, and perform poorly in school than their peers with better oral health. Prevention and early intervention in childhood and adolescence are important because oral health impacts a person's overall health and well-being throughout their life. Early dental visits for children are important because parents can get counseling on oral hygiene, fluoride, injury prevention, and nutrition. Read more in our infographic ( available in English and in Spanish).
Resources for Consumers
Educational materials for consumers in English and in other languages are written in an easy-to-read style that is appropriate for all audiences, including those with low literacy levels. Permissions requirements for downloading, printing, and photocopying appear on each item.
A Healthy Mouth for Every Body Campaign
A Healthy Mouth for Every Body, a public-awareness campaign coordinated by the Health Resources and Services Administration, highlights the importance of taking care of one’s oral health at home and seeing an oral health professional regularly. The campaign offers a variety of tips and consumer education tools to help everyone take good care of their mouths and teeth. Free materials include radio public service announcements, social media images and posts, and fact sheets.
Coronavirus Disease Handouts
These colorful handouts provide clear messages with photos about healthy eating and oral hygiene practices at home and about changes to dental offices to promote the safety of staff and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Coronavirus Disease and Oral Health: Information for Parents About Promoting Good Oral Health at Home. Available in English, Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
- Coronavirus Disease and Oral Health: Information for Parents About Visiting the Dental Office. Available in English, Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
Healthy Smile Brochures
These brochures are designed to provide parents with information about the importance of oral hygiene and oral health care during pregnancy and after their infant is born and about how to ensure that their infant or young child enjoys the best possible oral health. Consumer brochures are available in two formats: trifold and full-page (double-sided).
- A Healthy Smile for Your Baby: Tips to Keep Your Baby Healthy: Trifold | Full-page
(Spanish) Una sonrisa saludable para tu bebé: Consejos para mantener sano a tu bebé: Trifold | Full-page - A Healthy Smile for Your Young Child: Tips to Keep Your Child Healthy: Trifold | Full-page
(Spanish) Una sonrisa saludable para tu niño pequeño: Consejos para mantener sano a tu niño: Trifold | Full-page
(German) Ein gesundes Lächeln für Ihr kleines Kind: Tipps für gesunde Zähne Ihres Kindes: Full-page - Two Healthy Smiles: Tips to Keep You and Your Baby Healthy: Trifold | Full-page
(Spanish) Dos sonrisas saludables: Consejos para mantenerte a ti y a tu bebé sanos: Trifold | Full-page
Think Teeth: Oral Health Outreach Tools from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Free educational materials can be used in outreach activities to promote good oral health and encourage families to enroll their eligible children in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). All children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP have coverage for oral health services including check-ups, X-rays, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, fillings, and more. Posters, flyers, tear pads, and fact sheets are available to download and print. Some materials can be customized with an organization's information. Other digital outreach tools include short videos, social media messages and images, and web banners and buttons. The poster, flyer, and tear pads are now available in 24 languages (Amharic, Armenian, Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, English, French, Farsi, German, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Italian, Korean, Khmer, Lingala, Marshallese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese).
