The Tooth Decay Process: How to Reverse It and Avoid a Cavity
Information for parents of school-age children on how the tooth decay process starts and how it can be stopped.
Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Mouth Healthy
This easy-to-read booklet teaches people how diabetes can damage teeth and gums and how this damage can be prevented. Focuses on proper dental care and frequent dental visits. Part of a series on preventing diabetes problems.
Water Fluoridation
Since community water fluoridation began in 1945, it has been demonstrated to be a safe and cost-effective way to prevent tooth decay. It has been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.
Water fluoridation protects teeth in two ways:
Tooth Loss
Tooth loss is a sensitive indicator of overall dental health and access to dental care.
Overall, the prevalence of both partial and total tooth loss in adults and seniors has decreased since the early 1970s. In spite of this improvement, significant disparities remain in some population groups.
Periodontal (Gum) Disease
Periodontal disease is the most common cause of tooth loss among adults.
Overall, the prevalence of both moderate and severe periodontal disease in adults and seniors has decreased from the early 1970s. In spite of this improvement, significant disparities remain in some population groups.
Oral Cancer
Approximately 54,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer in 2022, and about 11,000 people will lose their lives to this disease. This largely preventable type of cancer affects the mouth and/or pharynx. Overall, since 2000, the rates of new oral cancer cases have not seen a significant increase. However, 5-year survival rates from these cancers have increased from the mid-1970s until the latest (2012–2018) National Cancer Institute survey. For both of these indicators, there are significant disparities in some population groups.
Open Wide and Trek Inside
For use with students in grades 1 and 2, this curriculum supplement focuses on oral health and the science of the oral environment. Includes educational videos and games (in English and Spanish).
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that protect the chewing surfaces of children’s back teeth from tooth decay.
Overall, the prevalence of sealants in children’s and adolescent’s teeth has increased since the early 1970s. In spite of this improvement, significant disparities remain in some population groups.
Prevalence of Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate
The annual prevalence of infants born with cleft lip with or without or cleft palate is 10 in 10,000. Table 1 provides annual prevalence statistics for children born with only cleft lip or cleft palate, and with cleft lip with or without cleft palate.
Dental Caries (Tooth Decay)
Dental caries (tooth decay) remains the most prevalent chronic disease in both children and adults, even though it is largely preventable. Although caries has significantly decreased for most Americans over the past five decades, disparities remain among some population groups.