The “lazy days of summer” doesn’t describe Oral Health Nevada over the next several months. We started summer hosting an Oral Health Roundup at the Reno Rodeo at both their Kid’s Day Rodeo and Special Kid’s Rodeo providing oral health education at five different interactive stations.  Children from Nevada attending the events learned how to brush and floss and that dental sealants prevent tooth decay.  The children and their parents also learned about the negative effect that tobacco use has on the mouth and that e-cigarettes are just as dangerous as the traditional ones.  All the children who completed the stations received a “Buckeroo Bag” filled with several items including a toothbrush, toothpaste and a tooth fairy saver box. During the Special Kids Rodeo, more than 100 children with special needs received Buckeroo Bags.  The funding for the Oral Health Roundup was provided in part by the American Dental Association Foundation.

In July, we’ll be at the Nevada Disabilities Conference (Nugget Casino, Sparks), both as a vendor and a presenter. On Monday, July 20^th we’ll be presenting a concurrent session titled, “Connecting Oral Health to Every Child.”  If you’re in the area, be sure to stop by and introduce yourself.

Check out what we’ve been up to!

For 70 years, community water fluoridation has played a major role in improving the nation’s oral health. Because of the dramatic role it has played in the reduction of tooth decay, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named it as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century. Community water fluoridation is one of the most practical, cost-effective, equitable and safe measures communities can take to prevent tooth decay and improve their oral health. Water fluoridation’s biggest advantage is that it is the best method of delivering fluoride to all members of the community, regardless of age, education, income level or access to routine dental care.

The benefits of fluoride’s effectiveness extend throughout life, resulting in fewer and less severe cavities. In fact, each generation born since the implementation of water fluoridation has enjoyed better dental health than the generation that preceded it. On April 27, 2015, at the National Oral Health Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the final Public Health Service (PHS) recommendation for the optimal fluoride level in drinking water to prevent tooth decay should be 0.7ppm. For more information go to http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/faqs/#overview5