February has been a busy oral health month celebrating Children’s Dental Health Month, National Gum Disease Awareness Month, and American Heart Month.  We have gathered a few oral health resources this month you can use year-round.  Finish off the month and celebrate with TxOHC on social media to educate others on the importance of oral health to total body health across the lifespan by liking, commenting, and sharing our social media messages.

This month TxOHC is publishing the 2022 Texas Oral Health Report Card and a new blog post, “Integrating a Dentist into a Pediatric Medical Practice,” by Dr. Heather Dent, DDS.  Keep reading below to learn more.

TxOHC Blog Post 
Integrating a Dentist into a Pediatric Medical Practice
by Heather Dent, DDS

TxOHC is pleased to post, “Integrating a Dentist into a Pediatric Medical Practice” an article written by Dr. Heather Dent, DDS, Dental Director for El Centro de Corazon in Houston Texas.  This article details how El Centro de Corazon imbedded dental care into their pediatric practice.

To read the full article on how Dr. Dent successfully integrated oral health into medical health in a CHC, please click here to read the full blog post on our website.

New Resources from Voices for Healthy Kids

Did you know an individual’s health, even before they become pregnant, can impact a newborn’s health and well-being?

Those who receive recommended health care services before they get pregnant are more likely to be healthy during pregnancy and to have healthy babies.

For more facts like this, check out our new Maternal, Infant and Toddler Fast Facts!

Voices for Healthy Kids, an initiative of the American Heart Association, works to help all young people eat healthier foods and be more active.

Report Shows Drop in Children’s Preventive Care During Pandemic

Public Health Reports published a new study entitled  Missed and Delayed Preventive Health Care Visits Among US Children Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Using data from the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey collected in April/May 2021, the researchers estimated missed, skipped, or delayed preventive checkups among households with children in the previous 12 months. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic led to a substantial drop in US children’s preventive care, which had not fully rebounded by the end of 2020.” The report concludes overall, 26.4% of households reported that at least one child/adolescent had missed or delayed a preventive visit because of COVID-19.

Find the full report here. 

Healthy Habits for Happy Smiles Handouts

This National Children Dental Health Month the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) has published four new handouts to help encourage families to promote good oral health hygiene habits for their young children. The handouts provide simple tips on the following oral topics:

• Getting Oral Health Treatment Is Important!
• Establishing a Bedtime Routine for Your Child
• Visiting the Dentist by Age 1
• Helping Children Stop Using a Pacifier

ECLKC has additional resources on children’s oral health including the Brush Up on Oral Health, Resources to Make You Smile, and Healthy Habits for Happy Smiles. 

The USPHS Chief Dental Officer Newsletter
from RADM Dr. Tim Ricks

Please find below the 61^st issue of The USPHS Chief Dental Officer Newsletter. This issue highlights National Children’s Dental Health Month including a Healthy People 2030 Update on Children’s Oral Health but also has other information on multi-directional integration, pandemic news, other news of interest, and upcoming events. 

Please find the newsletter here.