From the Front Line
New Pregnancy and Oral Health Video from AMCHP
December 6, 2016
This video from the Association for Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) perfectly depicts why dental care is the last thing on an expectant mother’s mind and why it should be one of the first! Pregnant mothers have so many things to do and decisions to make and getting to… » Read Full Post
Low Income Children Deserve Better Access to Dental Care
November 11, 2016
Calls to repeal the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, risk being realized come January 2017, when Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress take their seats. Much remains to be seen, but one thing that is unlikely to change much or change soon is unmet need. Children from families with low… » Read Full Post
Bottled Water or Tap? Considerations for your Choice
November 8, 2016
The New York Times published a fun interactive quiz in late October, Bottled Water or Tap: How Much Does Your Choice Matter? It takes the reader through a series of questions, mostly to gauge knowledge, but also to show us the environmental impact of our personal habits. It’s the kind… » Read Full Post
An Imperative: Treat the Social Determinants of Health
November 7, 2016
For a soft spoken person, Sir Michael Marmot, Director of England’s Institute of Health Equity, is a riveting speaker. Humble, deliberate, and always backed by evidence, Marmot frames our obligation to address the social determinants of health not just as a systems issue but as a moral imperative. Any health… » Read Full Post
History Is Full of Bad Decisions
October 10, 2016
We all have them, those cringe-inducing photos from 10 years ago. Did we really wear those colors? What made us like that hair style? Over time, change is inevitable. Even scientific facts and evidence evolve and change. That’s why, for example, in 2011 the Department of Health and Human Services… » Read Full Post
Let’s Do Our Part for A Healthy Start
October 10, 2016
In order to be healthy, kids need healthy teeth. It is that simple. Dental disease is largely preventable and should not be the most common chronic disease of childhood yet, sadly, it is. This is especially true among children from families with low incomes and communities of color. Community water… » Read Full Post
National Drinking Water Alliance Launches DrinkingWaterAlliance.org
September 29, 2016
New Digital Clearinghouse Brings 100s of Drinking Water Resources under One Roof The National Drinking Water Alliance (NDWA), a coalition of nonprofits, academic institutions, advocates and individuals, works to ensure that all children are able to access safe water in the places where they live, learn, and play. NDWA has… » Read Full Post
Oral Health, Rural America and Fluoridated Water
September 26, 2016
A couple of seemingly unrelated articles in the news recently are in fact very much related. On September 12, National Public Radio (NPR) told the story of Jessica Tefonik, a 31 year old mother of three living in rural Wisconsin. She had just received a set of dentures to replace… » Read Full Post
Back 2 School + Smiles = Back 2 Smiles!
August 23, 2016
It’s that great time of year when parents and kids start gearing up to go back to school. But for many children, classroom learning will be disrupted by pain from tooth decay. This is especially sad because the pain and suffering that send so many kids to the school nurse… » Read Full Post
Fluoridation: It’s Not Just for Kids
August 18, 2016
For decades, Americans have known that adding fluoride to drinking water helps protect teeth from cavities. Yet some people mistakenly believe this health benefit is enjoyed only by children. In fact, various studies — including one released a few months ago — are strengthening the evidence that adults also benefit… » Read Full Post
