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Oral Health
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    Oral Health

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    Interventions to Improve Oral Health
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    Oral Health Conditions
    Featured Content
    • CDC Training Courses for Infection Prevention and Control in Dental Settings
    • COVID-19 Guidance for All Healthcare Settings
    • CDC-Funded Programs
    Basics of Oral Health
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    Data on children and adults, common oral diseases and how populations are affected
    Oral Health Fast Facts
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    Information on a variety of oral health topics and featured infographics

    Community Water Fluoridation
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    Information on the benefits of water fluoridation, as well as recommendations and guidance for water engineers and operators

    Infection Prevention and Control
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    Guidelines and resources on infection prevention practices in dental settings

    Infographics about Oral Health

    Shareable graphics on a variety of oral health topics

    Oral Health Programs

    What CDC does to promote oral health

    Dental Sealants

    Evidence base for dental sealants and frequently asked questions

    Oral Health Data Tools

    Oral Health Data, My Water’s Fluoride, Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS)

    Dental Public Health Residency Program

    Specialty training for qualified dentists

    About Us

    The vision, mission, and strategic priorities of the Division of Oral Health

    Research and Publications

    Data reports and CDC staff manuscripts

    Site Map

    Everything oral health from A to Z

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    Last Reviewed: March 16, 2023
    Source: Division of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
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    • Basics of Oral Health plus icon
      • Children’s Oral Healthplus icon
        • Resources
      • Adult Oral Healthplus icon
        • Oral Health Tips
      • Older Adult Oral Health
      • Disparities in Oral Health
      • Oral Health Conditionsplus icon
        • Periodontal Disease
    • Oral Health Fast Factsplus icon
      • Cavities
      • Community Water Fluoridation
      • Dental Sealants
      • Diabetes
      • Gum Disease
      • HPV and Oral Cancer
      • Pregnancy
      • Return on Investment
      • Tobacco Use
      • Tooth Loss
    • Oral Health Infographics
    • Community Water Fluoridationplus icon
      • Water Fluoridation Basicsplus icon
        • Over 75 Years of Community Water Fluoridation
        • Cost Savings of Community Water Fluoridation
        • Other Fluoride Products
        • Timeline for Community Water Fluoridation
      • Water Fluoridation Guidelines & Recommendationsplus icon
        • Surgeons General’s Statements on Community Water Fluoridation
        • Scientific Reviews and Reports: Assessing the Evidence
        • Statement on the Evidence Supporting the Safety and Effectiveness of Community Water Fluoridation
      • Water Fluoridation Data & Statisticsplus icon
        • Fluoridation Statistics
        • Calculating Fluoridation Statistics
        • Estimating Community Water System Populations
        • Fluoridation Growth
      • Water Fluoridation Promotional Resourcesplus icon
        • Infographic: Communities Benefit from Water Fluoridation
        • Infographic: How Fluoride Works
        • Animated Graphic: How Fluoride Works
        • Messages for Social Media: How Fluoride Works
        • Fact Sheet: Community Water Fluoridation
        • Infographic: Smile, Because You Can
        • Infographic: Water with Fluoride Builds a Foundation for Healthy Teeth
        • Infographic: Water with Fluoride Builds a Foundation for Healthy Teeth (alternative)
        • Infographic: Meet John & Joe
      • Community Water Fluoridation FAQsplus icon
        • About Fluoride
        • Community Water Fluoridation
        • Bottled Water
        • Private Wells
        • Infant Formula
        • Fluorosis
        • Public Health Service Recommendation
        • Fluoridation Statistics — Population Methodology Changes
      • Water Operators & Engineersplus icon
        • Water Fluoridation Additives
        • Shortages of Fluoridation Additives
        • Drinking Water Pipe Systems
        • CDC-Sponsored Water Fluoridation Training
      • Links to Other Organizations
    • Dental Sealantsplus icon
      • Dental Sealant FAQs
      • School Sealant Programsplus icon
        • Implementation of School Sealant Programs
      • SEALS
    • Infection Prevention & Control in Dental Settingsplus icon
      • Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settingsplus icon
        • Notes To Reader, Suggested citation, and Introduction
        • Objectives
        • Administrative Measures and Infection Prevention Education Training
        • Dental Health Care Personnel Safety and Program Evaluation
        • Standard Precautions
        • Dental Unit Water Quality
        • Risk Assessment, Conclusions, and Source Documents
        • Appendix A: Infection Prevention Checklist
        • Appendix A: Infection Prevention Checklist Section II: Direct Observation of Personnel and Patient-Care Practices
        • Appendix B: Relevant Recommendations Published by CDC since 2003
        • Appendix C: Selected References and Additional Resources by Topic Area
      • CDC DentalCheck Mobile App
      • Frequently Asked Questionsplus icon
        • About the CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health Care Settings—2003
        • Antibiotic Stewardship
        • Bloodborne Pathogens & Aerosols
        • Cleaning & Disinfecting Environmental Surfaces
        • Contact Dermatitis & Latex Allergy
        • Dental Handpieces and Other Devices Attached to Air and Waterlines
        • Dental Unit Water Quality
        • Education and Training
        • Extracted Teeth
        • Hand Hygiene
        • Infection Control Breaches
        • Measles
        • Occupational Exposure to Blood
        • Oral Surgical Procedures
        • Personal Protective Equipment
        • Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette
        • Safe Injection Practices
        • Saliva Ejector & Backflow
        • Service Animals in Dental Health Care Settings
        • Single-Use (Disposable) Devices
        • Sterilization
        • Sterilization: Cleaning
        • Sterilization: Monitoring
        • Sterilization: Packaging & Storage
        • Use & Handling of Toothbrushes
      • Training Coursesplus icon
        • Foundations: Building the Safest Dental Visit
        • Foundations Media
        • Basic Expectations for Safe Care
      • Reprocessing Dental Handpieces
      • Selected References for Infection Prevention & Control by Topic Area
      • Screening and Evaluating Safer Dental Devicesplus icon
        • Screening Form
        • Device Evaluation Form
      • Glossary
    • Oral Health Data Toolsplus icon
      • Oral Health Data
      • My Water’s Fluoride
      • SEALS
      • Water Fluoridation Reporting Systemplus icon
        • Water Fluoridation Reporting System Data Stream Infographic
    • Oral Health Programsplus icon
      • CDC-Funded Programs
      • Basic Strategies for Collective Impact
      • Implementation of Evidence-Based Preventive Interventionsplus icon
        • School-Based and School-Linked Dental Sealant Programs
        • Coordinate Community Water Fluoridation Programs
        • Targeted Clinical Preventive Services & Health Systems Changes
      • Oral Health Program Plans
    • Research & Publicationsplus icon
      • Oral Health Surveillance Report, 2019plus icon
        • Introduction
        • Acknowledgements and Citations
        • List of Tables
        • Methods
        • Dental Caries in Primary Teeth
        • Dental Caries in Permanent Teeth of Children and Adolescents
        • Dental Sealants
        • Dental Caries Among Adults and Older Adults
        • Edentulism and Tooth Retention
        • Summary
        • Conclusion and Comment
        • References
        • Infographics
      • Journal Articles
      • Oral Health Featuresplus icon
        • Foundations: A Safer Dental Visit
        • CDC Residency Program Strengthens Dental Public Health Workforce
        • New Fluoride Technology Supports Oral Health
        • September is Dental Infection Control Awareness Month (DICAM)
        • CDC DentalCheck
        • Children’s Dental Health
        • Pregnancy and Oral Health
        • Dental Professionals: Help Your Patients Quit Tobacco Products
      • Federal Agency Reports on Oral Healthplus icon
        • Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges
        • Oral Health In America: Summary of the Surgeon General’s Report
    • CDC Dental Public Health Residency Programplus icon
      • Resident Spotlight
      • Lecture Series
      • How to Apply to the Dental Public Health Residency (DPHR) Program
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • About the Division of Oral Healthplus icon
      • Stay Connected
      • Healthy People 2030: Oral Health Objectives
      • Healthy People 2020: Oral Health Objectives
    • Site Map
    • About CDC
    • Contact Us
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