Take Action for Children’s Dental Health Month!

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, when the American Dental Association encourages grownups to spread awareness about the importance of children’s oral health.  

Here are 4 things to know about kids’ oral health in Kentucky, along with ways to take action! 

   1. What to Know: The 2023 Kentucky Early Learner’s Oral Health Survey (initial findings) found that children across varied socioeconomic backgrounds in Kentucky show an alarming rate of “dental poverty,” with rates of caries and untreated decay comparable to those living at or below 100% of the federal poverty level nationally. 

→Take Action: Join oral health professionals and advocates throughout Kentucky who plan activities for National Children’s Dental Health Month to help instill healthy oral hygiene practices in kids. 

Let us know your plans to lift up National Children’s Dental Health Month! Get free educational materials for kids from the American Dental Association, the Kentucky Dental Association’s SmileKentucky! Program, or from Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness Tooth Fairy Tips. 

    2. What to Know: As noted in KOHC’s 2023 Landscape Assessment, fewer than half of Kentucky children on Medicaid or KCHIP received a routine dental visit in 2019. 

→Take Action: Let your legislators know you support increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for dental providers to expand the Medicaid network for dental care.    

   3. What to Know: An analysis of Medicaid claims in three states found that children living in communities with fluoridated water had lower treatment costs related to tooth decay than did similar children living in non-fluoridated communities. 

→Take Action: Let your legislators know you support protection of our community water fluoridation programs. 

   4. What to Know:  KOHC members and advocates are committed to improve oral health education and access to care.   

→Take Action: Make a plan to attend the KOHC Spring Quarterly Meeting on Friday, March 21st from 10am – 12pm ET and learn about important oral health content and member and policy updates.