Oral Health Resources

In the Spotlight

February Focus on Children's Oral Health
Although tooth decay can be prevented, it still affects more children in the United States than any other chronic infectious disease. This month, CDC’s Division of Oral Health is focusing on children’s oral health. We encourage parents and caregivers to play an active role in protecting their children’s teeth by teaching them good oral health habits. Learn how to ensure good oral health for your children.

New CDC Report Provides Updated Statistics on Population Prevalence of Periodontal Disease in U.S. Adults
This report, entitled “Prevalence of Periodontitis in Adults in the United States: 2009 and 2010,” concludes that 47.2% of U.S. adults have some form of periodontal disease. Previous population estimates of the disease may have underestimated its true population prevalence. Read the report.*
New Data Brief: Oral Health Disparities as Determined by Selected Healthy People 2020 Oral Health Objectives for the United States, 2009–2010
The Healthy People 2020 initiative contains over 1,200 objectives that serve as a roadmap for tracking the nation's health. An important activity of Healthy People is to monitor health disparities in the United States, which include indicators like poverty status, race, and ethnicity. This new data brief focuses on key Healthy People Oral Health objectives covering select age groups by race, ethnicity, and poverty status from 2009 to 2010. Read the data brief at NCHS Data Brief 104.
Oral Health Selected as a Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicator
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has selected oral health as one of the 12 Leading Health Indicators (LHIs) for Healthy People 2020. HHS will focus on oral health and the actions that can be taken toward the goal to “increase the proportion of children, adolescents, and adults who used the oral health care system in the past 12 months."
Safe Injection Practices in Dentistry
Safe injection practices are a set of measures clinicians should follow to perform injections in an optimally safe manner for patients, health care personnel, and others. CDC reminds dental practitioners of the safe injection practices that are critical for patient safety.
2010 Water Fluoridation Statistics
Every two years, CDC releases statistics on the percentage of the U.S. population that receives fluoridated drinking water. The most recent CDC statistics show that in 2010, 73.9%—204.3 million Americans—on community water systems received fluoridated water. This is an increase of nearly 9 million people since 2008.
Preventing Cavities, Gum Disease, Tooth Loss, and Oral Cancers: At A Glance 2011
This annual CDC publication provides a succinct overview of information and statistics concerning the oral health of Americans and the burden of oral disease, as well as CDC activities and success stories related to oral health. View At A Glance 2011.
CDC's Oral Health Strategic Plan for 2011–2014
This plan details our mission, role, goals, and strategic priorities for improving the oral health of our nation.
Changes Proposed to National Fluoridation Level
In late 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed an adjustment to the recommendation for the optimal fluoride level in drinking water to prevent tooth decay. Learn more on Community Water Fluoridation: Questions and Answers. View the Federal Register notice for more information. (The period for public comment ended in April 2011.)
CDC Honors 65 Years of Community Water Fluoridation
Community water fluoridation has been a safe and effective intervention for reducing tooth decay for 65 years. CDC's Division of Oral Health honors its history and contribution to public health.
Water Fluoridation Overview
A collection of resources on the benefits, safety, engineering support, and other information on community water fluoridation and fluorides.
State and County Water Fluoridation Information
My Water's Fluoride, Oral Health Maps and other resources provide up-to-date information on the fluoride content of water in 32 participating states.
State Oral Health Programs
CDC provides funding and technical assistance to help state and territorial health agencies develop and operate public health programs to improve oral health. Currently, 20 states receive funds. CDC also has developed a collection of tools to assist states to build oral health program capacity.
Recommended Infection Control Guidelines for Dentistry
These CDC guidelines provide the latest information on dental infection control issues as well as consensus evidence-based recommendations. See also the slide set and accompanying speaker notes.
U.S. Surgeon General's Statement Supporting Water Fluoridation
See also the fact sheet summary of most recent Surgeon General's Report and fact sheet summary of Surgeon General's Call to Action.
CDC's Dental Public Health Residency Program
Come learn with us. The CDC's Division of Oral Health (DOH) is currently considering applicants for the 2013–2014 Dental Public Health Residency Program. Two applicants will be chosen for this accredited training program, which is located in Atlanta, Georgia. Learn more about the requirements and how to apply.
Cartoon of Tubie, the toothpaste man

Brush Up on Healthy Teeth
A health education campaign including a Brush Up Quiz for Parents, Tip Sheet, and Poster.

Also in Spanish!

* Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at this link.

Page last reviewed: February 7, 2013
Page last modified: February 7, 2013
Content source: Division of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion