Taking care of your children’s teeth is important!
Sacramento County Public Health would like to remind parents about dental coverage options and resources that are available. Sacramento County Oral Health Program makes it their daily mission to increase access to dental care and educate parents about how to prevent dental disease in babies and children so the whole family can live healthier lives without dental pain. Maintaining oral health can lead to improved overall health – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you have delayed a regular cleaning during the COVID-19 pandemic, take the time to schedule an appointment for your child this month. Dental offices are taking every precaution to make the experience as safe and seamless as possible for patients.
“Parents who had to cancel their children's dental appointments due to COVID-19 need to get back on track to prevent kids' tooth decay,” said Dr. Olivia Kasirye, Sacramento County Public Health Officer. “Cavities do not heal on their own, and therefore, need intervention by a dentist. Together, we can work to prevent tooth decay, tooth loss and help our children stay healthy.”
To help connect children to needed dental services, the Oral Health Program works with community partners to increase the number of preschool and elementary school students that receive dental assessments.
The Sacramento County Oral Health Program is pleased to announce the launch of a new
Oral Health website. The new site hosts resources for accessing dental care and information on how to stay healthy throughout all life stages In addition, the site provides information on Oral Health Program projects to increase access to dental care for the County’s special needs population, provide guidance training to dental professionals on tobacco-cessation and sugar-sweetened beverages, share educational materials with the community on the benefits of consuming fluoridated tap water, conduct oral health training to medical professionals and service workers that serve pregnant and perinatal women, and so much more. For more information,
visit the Oral Health Website.
Facts on Dental Health
- Cavities are not something that everyone gets - you can prevent cavities and dental disease by brushing twice a day, making healthy food/drink choices and visiting a dentist regularly.
- If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, it is important to see your dentist for a checkup.
- Baby teeth matter for the development of healthy permanent teeth, speech and proper eating. From day one, protect baby’s dental health.
- Wipe baby’s gums after feeding with a soft cloth or finger toothbrush
- Only put water in a baby’s bottle at bedtime (if a bottle is needed and your baby can safely consume water)
- Make baby’s first dental appointment when their first tooth comes in or by their first birthday
- 2x2x2 - Brush with fluoridated toothpaste twice a day for two minutes and visit your dentist twice a year.
- Dental sealants and fluoride varnish greatly reduce the risk for cavities.
- Make healthy food choices and limit sugary snacks and drinks.
Looking for Dental Coverage?
If you have Medi-Cal, you have dental benefits. In Sacramento County, approximately 58 percent of children who have Medi-Cal do not regularly visit the dentist even though dental care is a covered benefit. Studies show that children are more likely to visit the dentist if their parents do, too. Be the oral health role model your children need.
If you don’t have Medi-Cal, call
Sacramento Covered at 916-414-8333 to help determine if you qualify for free or low-cost health coverage. If you don’t qualify, Sacramento Covered will provide other options to help you get the dental care you need. The
Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance also helps determine eligibility for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and more – call 916-874-3100.
The Sacramento County Dental Health Program receives funding from the California State Department of Public Health through Proposition 56, the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act. As part of this grant, the Oral Health Program undertook a countywide oral health needs assessment to develop projects to support the California Oral Health Plan and to meet the unique needs of county residents.
