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National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety

National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety

Brush Up on Oral Health

Brush Up logo Head Start staff can use this series of tip sheets to support the oral health of children and pregnant people enrolled in Head Start programs and their families. The tip sheets include up-to-date practices and practical tips to promote good oral health. Health and social service professionals interested in improving the oral health of children and pregnant people enrolled in Head Start and their families may also find Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheets helpful.


Infant Oral Health | Salud oral infantil


Easing Baby’s Teething Pain | Cómo aliviar el dolor de la dentición del bebé
Teething happens when a baby’s primary teeth push through the gums into the baby’s mouth. For some babies, teething is uncomfortable. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet provides information on teething and offers tips for Head Start staff to share with parents to comfort their baby who has teething pain.

Promoting Oral Health for Babies | La promoción de la salud oral en los bebés
Taking care of babies’ oral health is important. Care should start before the baby’s first tooth comes in. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet focuses on oral health for babies (from birth to age 1) and what Head Start staff can do to help promote good oral health for babies.

Promoting the Age 1 Dental Visit | La promoción de las consultas dentales a la edad de 1 año
Tooth decay can be prevented or managed if children have early dental visits and if parents or other caregivers take good care of their child’s teeth between dental visits. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet discusses the importance of the age 1 dental visit. It also offers tips to help Head Start staff explain to parents what happens during the dental visit.

Understanding Why Primary Teeth Are Important | Por qué son importantes los dientes de leche
Some parents believe that primary (baby) teeth are less important than permanent teeth because primary teeth are going to “fall out anyway.” This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet talks about why primary teeth are important and offers information that Head Start staff can share with parents.

Using Pacifiers Safely | Cómo usar los chupetes o chupones de forma segura
Most babies have a natural need to suck, and most find it calming. This type of sucking is also called “non-nutritive sucking” because the baby is not being fed. Giving a baby a pacifier can satisfy a baby’s need to suck. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet offers tips Head Start staff can share with parents about using a pacifier safely and weaning their child from a pacifier.

Child Oral Health | Salud oral de los niños


Caring for the Oral Health of Children Experiencing Homelessness | Cuidado de la salud oral de los niños que experimentan carencia de hogar
Each year, over 1.2 million children from birth to age 6 in the United States (5 percent of all children in this age range) experience homelessness. Families experiencing homelessness may face barriers to meeting their child’s oral health needs, including accessing oral health care. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet highlights oral health issues faced by children experiencing homelessness and offers tips that Head Start staff can use to partner with these children’s families to find and use oral health care.

Identifying Oral Health Signs of Child Maltreatment | Detección de los signos de salud oral que apuntan al maltrato infantil
Child maltreatment includes all types of abuse and neglect of a child under age 18 by a parent, caregiver or another person in a custodial role. There are four types of maltreatment: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet describes oral health signs of physical and sexual abuse. It also highlights resources available to Head Start staff to help them support families.

Preventing Oral Injuries | Prevención de lesiones orales
Oral injuries to the face and mouth happen often among young children. Because oral injuries can affect children for the rest of their lives, it is important for Head Start staff and parents to try to prevent these injuries. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet discusses oral injuries that can happen to children. It also identifies strategies Head Start staff can use to help prevent these injuries.

Promoting Oral Health for Children with Disabilities | Promoción de la salud oral para niños con discapacidades
Children with disabilities are at higher risk for tooth decay and other oral health problems than children without disabilities. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet focuses on oral health challenges that some children with disabilities face and what Head Start staff and parents can do to address these challenges.

Treating Oral Injuries | Tratamiento de lesiones orales
Injuries to the head, face, and mouth are common in young children. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet identifies supplies to include in a first aid kit for treating oral injuries. It also explains how to give first aid for the five most common oral injuries that happen to young children with primary (baby) teeth.

Understanding How Sugar Contributes to Tooth Decay | Comprendamos cómo el azúcar contribuye a la caries dental
This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet is all about sugar. It describes how consuming foods and drinks containing sugar often during the day increases the risk of developing tooth decay. It shares information about how to read food labels to identify hidden sugars in products and tips for Head Start staff to share with parents about limiting their child’s sugar intake.

Adult Oral Health | Salud oral de los adultos


Discovering the Impact of Stress on Oral Health | Descubrir el efecto del estrés en la salud oral
Stress is a reaction to a physical, psychological, or emotional demand. Everyone has felt stress at one time or another. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet describes how stress affects oral health and offers tips to help Head Start staff manage stress.

Promoting Oral Health for Adults | La promoción de la salud oral en los adultos
A healthy mouth is just as important for adults' overall health and well-being as it is for children's. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet talks about the impact of oral health on adults' overall health and well-being and offers tips on what Head Start staff can do to help adults keep their mouths healthy.

Promoting Oral Health Services for Pregnant People | La promoción de los servicios de salud oral en las personas embarazadas
It is safe and important to get oral health care during pregnancy. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet talks about oral health concerns during pregnancy and offers tips for Head Start staff to help pregnant people keep their mouths healthy.

Understanding How Smoking Impacts Oral Health | Comprender cómo el tabaquismo afecta la salud oral
Not smoking or quitting smoking is important for overall health, including oral health. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet describes some oral health problems related to smoking that can affect parents, pregnant people, and children. It offers tips Head Start staff can use to help parents and pregnant people quit smoking.

Oral Health Care | Cuidado de la salud oral


Finding Oral Health Care | Buscar atención para la salud oral
To stay healthy, it's important for pregnant people and children to get oral health care. For some, it's hard to find. This issue of Brush Up on Oral Health talks about why regular dental visits are important and offers tips for Head Start staff to help pregnant people and parents find and use oral health care.

Finding Oral Health Professionals That Accept Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | Encontrar profesionales de la salud oral que acepten Medicaid y el Programa de Seguro Médico para Niños (CHIP)
Medicaid and CHIP pay for oral health care for children enrolled in these programs. Without these two programs, many children would not receive the oral health care that they need. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet describes Medicaid and CHIP and explains why the programs are important. It includes tips Head Start staff can use to help parents find a dental office or clinic that accepts Medicaid and CHIP.

Following Up on Needed Oral Health Care | Seguimiento de la atención de salud oral necesaria
Most children in Head Start meet the requirement for having an oral exam within 90 days of beginning to attend a program. However, some children are not taken back to the dental office or clinic for needed follow-up care. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet discusses the importance of treating tooth decay in primary teeth and offers tips for Head Start staff to encourage parents to get follow-up care for their child.

Incorporating Oral Health into Emergency Preparedness | Incorporación de la salud oral en la preparación para emergencias
Head Start programs and families might not consider oral health when preparing for or recovering from an emergency or disaster. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet discusses how to prepare for oral emergencies before a situation occurs, as well as how to deal with some oral health challenges that staff may face after a disaster.

Reducing Fear of Dental Visits | Reducir el miedo a las visitas dentales
Some people are afraid of dental visits and avoid them. Parents who are fearful may avoid taking their children to dental visits. Oral diseases do not go away without treatment and get worse without proper care. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet describes reasons some parents may fear dental visits and avoid seeking care. It includes tips on ways parents can overcome their fears.

Talking with Children About Dental Visits | Cómo hablar con los niños acerca de las visitas dentales
It’s understandable that children sometimes get nervous about their first few dental visits. Going to the dental office or clinic is a new and unfamiliar experience for them. For young children who are not used to oral health care yet, having their teeth and mouths examined can feel intrusive.  This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet discusses tips for Head Start Staff to share with parents to prepare children for dental visits.

Understanding Use of Anesthesia and Sedation for Oral Health Services | Comprender el uso de la anestesia y la sedación para los servicios de salud oral
Sedation and general anesthesia are important tools for dentists providing oral health care in situations where a child must remain still, have their pain controlled, or be calmed down. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet describes anesthesia and sedation used for oral health care. The tip sheet provides a list of questions that Head Start staff can share with parents. Parents can use the list to help them ask the dentist if anesthesia or sedation should be used to treat their child’s tooth decay and what type should be used to make treatment safe and effective.

Using Case Management to Improve Oral Health Care | Uso de la administración de casos para mejorar la atención de la salud oral
Case management is a service provided by Head Start program staff. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet defines case management and explains how it can help improve the oral health of children enrolled in Head Start programs. It also describes how case managers and parents can work together to meet children’s oral health needs.

Using Teledentistry to Provide Care for Children | Uso de la teleodontología para atender a los niños
Teledentistry is increasing access to oral health care for those who need it most. Teledentistry can facilitate the delivery of oral health care, including education, diagnosis of diseases, preventive care, and limited level restorative care. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet for Head Start staff shares basic information about how teledentistry works, using teledentistry in public health settings, the benefits of using it in Head Start programs, and tips for getting started.

Fluorides | Flúor


Brushing Teeth at the Classroom Table | El cepillado de los dientes en la mesa del aula
This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet is all about toothbrushing in a Head Start classroom. Head Start staff can help children brush and develop positive oral health habits that will last a lifetime. This tip sheet answers questions about the amount of fluoride toothpaste to use, the benefits of brushing at the classroom table as a group, and how to clean and store toothbrushes.

Encouraging Children to Drink Water | Incentivar a los niños a beber agua
Water is important for good oral health and overall health and well-being. Drinking water every day helps move nutrients throughout the body, gets rid of waste, gives skin a healthy glow, keeps muscles moving, and promotes a healthy weight. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet describes why drinking water is important for good oral health. It provides resources Head Start staff can use to promote drinking water.

Facilitating the Use of Fluoride Supplements | Facilitar el uso de suplementos de flúor
Fluoride supplements are recommended for children ages 6 months to 16 years who are determined to be at high risk for dental caries (tooth decay) and whose primary source of drinking water does not contain the right amount of fluoride that is naturally found in water. Unlike dietary supplements, fluoride supplements can't be purchased over the counter. Fluoride supplements require a prescription from a dentist, physician, or nurse practitioner. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet provides information about fluoride supplements and the role of Head Start staff in promoting them.

Incorporating Toothbrushing in Bedtime Routines | Incorporación del cepillado de dientes a las rutinas de la hora de acostarse
Having a regular bedtime routine helps children know what to expect at the end of the day. Brushing children’s teeth is an important part of the routine. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet describes the Brush, Book, Bed program developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The purpose of the program is to structure children’s bedtime routines. It includes recommendations that Head Start staff can share with parents for choosing children’s books on oral health.

Understanding Use of Silver Diamine Fluoride | Comprender el uso del fluoruro diamino de plata
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is gaining acceptance in the United States as a treatment to prevent, slow, or stop tooth decay. Using SDF can avoid the need to remove decay and fill a tooth. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet provides information that Head Start staff can share with parents about how SDF works. It offers tips Head Start staff can use to help parents understand the benefits of fluoride.

Understanding How Fluoride Helps Prevent and Repair Tooth Decay | Comprendamos cómo el flúor ayuda a prevenir y curar las caries
Fluoride is the safest and best way to prevent tooth decay. For generations, many communities have added fluoride to their public (tap) water supply to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride is also added to most toothpaste brands and can be professionally applied using varnish or gel. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet describes how fluoride works to prevent and repair tooth decay. It offers tips Head Start staff can use to help parents understand the benefits of fluoride.

Understanding Why Community Water Fluoridation Is Important | Comprendamos por qué es importante la fluoración del agua en la comunidad
Fluoride is a mineral found in nature, including in soil, rocks, and plants. Fluoride is important because it prevents tooth decay. All water naturally has fluoride, but amounts vary. Since most water doesn’t have enough natural fluoride to prevent tooth decay, many towns and cities add fluoride to their water supply. This is called “community water fluoridation.” This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet talks about why community water fluoridation is important. It offers tips for Head Start staff to help parents choose fluoridated tap (faucet) water for their family where it is available.

Oral Health Promotion | Promoción de la salud oral


Accessing Oral Health Care in Rural Areas | Acceso a la atención de la salud oral en áreas rurales
Regular dental visits are important. However, some pregnant people and children living in rural communities have trouble accessing oral health services and miss the benefits of good oral health. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet presents some challenges pregnant people and children in rural areas face in accessing oral health care. It provides tips Head Start staff can use to develop a plan to help families access oral health care in rural areas.

Choosing Healthy Drinks | Cómo escoger bebidas saludables
Choosing healthy drinks is just as important as choosing healthy foods. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet focuses on choosing healthy drinks and identifying drinks with added sugar. The tip sheet also discusses how Head Start staff can help parents prevent tooth decay by promoting healthy drink choices (e.g., milk, fluoridated tap or bottled water) and limiting drinks with added sugar.

Engaging Parents in Their Child's Oral Health | El compromiso de los padres en la salud oral de sus hijos
Parents' involvement in their child's oral health is key to the child's overall health and well-being. Parents who introduce, reinforce, and model good oral health behaviors and attitudes pass them on to their children. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet describes why it is important for parents to be engaged in their child's oral health. It includes strategies and resources Head Start staff can use to engage parents in their child's oral health. A recipe for a healthy snack that can be made in a Head Start classroom or at home is also included.

Ensuring Children Are Up to Date on Oral Health Services | Asegurar que los niños se encuentren al día con los servicios de salud oral
This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet describes one part of the Head Start Program Performance Standard (HSPPS),  Ensuring up-to-date child health status, 45 CFR §1302.42(b)(1)(i), and how it relates to oral health. The tip sheet discusses how Head Start programs can find and use the dental periodicity schedule for their state.

Preventing Tooth Decay | Cómo prevenir la caries dental
Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth that use sugar in food to make acid. Acid removes minerals from the outer tooth surface (enamel). Over time, acid breaks down the tooth surface and creates a cavity (hole) in the tooth. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet explains why it is important to decrease factors that can cause tooth decay and increase factors that protect teeth from decay. Head Start staff can share this information with parents.

Promoting Oral Health and School Readiness | Promover la salud oral y la preparación para la escuela
School readiness begins with health because a child must be healthy to be ready to learn. School readiness depends on positive physical, social and emotional, learning, language, and cognitive development. Oral health impacts each of these areas and plays an important role in a child’s school readiness. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet describes the impact of oral health on a child’s ability to learn. It includes strategies and resources Head Start staff can use to promote oral health among parents and in the classroom.

Promoting Oral Health During a Home Visit | Cómo promover la salud oral durante la visita al hogar
Home visiting is a service provided by a wide range of staff, including family service workers, health managers, teachers, and teacher aids, within the home to pregnant people and parents of children from birth to age 5. During home visits, pregnant people and parents learn important information to keep themselves and their child healthy and safe and to support child-parent relationships. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet discusses why promoting oral health during home visits is important. It also provides tips Head Start staff can use to promote oral health during home visits.

Promoting Oral Health in Head Start Programs and at Home | Promover la salud oral en los programas Head Start y en el hogar
Teaching children and parents about oral health throughout the program year is a valuable service that Head Start staff provide. Repeating messages reminds children and parents about the importance of keeping their mouth healthy and how to do it. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet provides strategies that Head Start staff can use to promote good oral health among children and parents.

Understanding the Role of Dental Hygienist Liaisons | Comprender el papel de los enlaces con higienistas dentales
Dental hygienists play an important role in promoting oral health and preventing oral disease. Because of this role, the National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety (NCHBHS), working in partnership with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, created the Dental Hygienist Liaison (DHL) program. Under the DHL program, one dental hygienist from each state volunteers to help promote oral health for pregnant people and children enrolled in Head Start. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet describes the role of DHLs and how they can help staff promote oral health and prevent oral disease in Head Start programs.

Health Literacy, Language, and Culture | Conocimiento, lengua y cultura sobre la salud


Improving Oral Health Literacy | Profundizar en los conocimientos básicos sobre salud
Oral health literacy is more than a person’s ability to read. It is the degree to which a person is able to get, evaluate, understand, and use oral health information and services to make good decisions about health. It is estimated that only 1 in 10 adults in the United States can fully understand written material on health. People with low health literacy are also more likely to have low oral health literacy. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet focuses on oral health literacy, why it is important, and what Head Start staff can do to improve it.

Using Culturally Responsive Practices to Promote Oral Health | Uso de prácticas receptivas desde un punto de vista cultural para promover la salud oral
Parents bring a wealth of strengths that stem from their cultures—beliefs, values, and behaviors—that shape their way of life. Parents’ cultural practices influence how they take care of their children. To support families effectively, Head Start staff must recognize and appreciate families’ cultural practices that impact oral health. This Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet defines and focuses on culturally responsive practices and how staff can help parents promote their child’s oral health.