Campaign for Dental Health

Over the past half century, better dental care and fluoridation have transformed American oral health. Run-away tooth decay and rows of missing teeth, once commonplace, are now rarer than ever. But this evolution has not proceeded evenly. Millions of children, especially poor and minority kids, are needlessly suffering from oral health problems. So the Campaign for Dental Health, a program of the American Academy of Pediatrics, has organized to defend our progress and ensure that more children get the basic dental care they need to grow, learn, and lead healthy lives.

Mission

The Campaign for Dental Health (CDH) was created to ensure that people of all ages have access to the most effective, affordable and equitable way to protect teeth from decay — community water fluoridation. The CDH is a broad network of oral health advocates, health professionals, child and family organizations, and scientists who are working together to preserve our nation’s gains in oral health. More than 165 local, state, and national organizations are partners in the CDH. It is our mission to provide the public and policy makers with the evidence-based information and tools they need to promote and protect this important public health measure. We believe, quite simply, that life is better with teeth. To find out how to become a Campaign partner or to request additional information from the CDH, visit the Contact Us page for ways to connect with us.

Goal

Children with healthy mouths do better in school and are more likely to become happy and successful adults. We want our communities to make rational decisions about their health based on science, not fear. The goal of our work and this website is to share the facts about oral health and preventive strategies like fluoride.

Acknowledgements

The Campaign for Dental Health is a program of the American Academy of Pediatrics, generously supported in part by the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and the Arcora Foundation.