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New Mexico Dental Journal, Winter 2016
OOH
New Mexico Oral Health Advocates
Working To Prevent Tooth Decay
By Rudy Blea—OOH Program Director
T
ooth decay is preventable! Reducing the
incidence of tooth decay among children,
adolescents and adults occurs by individuals
practicing good oral hygiene, eating healthy food,
consuming f luoridated water, seeing a dentist or
hygienist on a regular basis, and most important
having a dental home. While this article is primarily
targeting pre-school aged children, elementary school
aged children and adolescents, the same prevention
interventions are applicable to adults especially those
aged 18 to 35 who lack dental insurance and expe-
rience low income. Lack of oral health care crosses
all ages, building a good oral health foundation can
contribute to fewer experiences of tooth decay, adult
extractions and other restorative needs.
The National Governor’s Association (NGA)
recently published an oral health document, “Health
investments that pay off: Strategies to improve oral
health. In its introductory statement NGA states that
while most Americans enjoy good oral health, low
income and uninsured families are disproportionately
affected by dental related disease. The article further
states that access to oral health care that could prevent
tooth decay is significantly worse for the low-income,
uninsured, and minority children.
To reduce the incidence of tooth decay NGA
recommends three interventions to help improve the
oral health of children:
1. School-based or school-linked
dental sealant delivery programs
2. Community water fluoridation
programs
3. Routine application of fluoride
varnish by primary care providers
The report further states that oral health and state
leaders should consider strategies that support the
oral health work force to increase access to safe and
cost effective interventions such as fluoride and dental
sealant applications.
The New Mexico Department of Health, the New
Mexico Dental Association, and the New Mexico
Oral Health Coalition are partnering with the
DentaQuest Foundation’s Oral Health For All 2020
to reduce the incidence of tooth decay among children
by
promoting in the increased use of dental sealant
and fluoride varnish
through school-based programs.
They have also been working closely with the medical
community
to increase the use of fluoride varnish
by pediatricians and dental providers, along with
promoting and maintaining community water
fluoridation throughout out the state
.
The New Mexico oral health partnerships follow
the evidence-based practices recommended by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
American Dental Association, Association of State
and Territorial Dental Directors, American Dental
Hygienists Association, National Network for Oral
Health Advocates, Maternal and Child Oral Health
Policy, and other organizations. Additionally, the
recommended interventions will contribute to a
healthy New Mexico and meet the 2020 Oral Health
Objectives.
Rudy Blea is program director for New Mexico Department
of Health, Office of Oral Health. She can be reached at