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FeedSmart Mouths
Dental health is an indicator of overall wellness, so it shouldn’t be neglected. The Delaware Oral Health Coalition works to get everyone taking good care of their mouths.
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The biggest hint that something special was going to happen for the 100 pre-schoolers at the White Oak Head Start Center in Dover might have been the lady with the wings.
The Tooth Fairy herself had paid a visit to the center, along with dentist Dr. Kathy Hilton and hygienist Kimberly Hickman-Bowen, to show children the best way to brush their teeth.
The secondary goal—one that has become a statewide issue for Delawareans of all ages—was to reinforce the importance of good oral health. It’s a message that has been lost among the buzz of other health information, resulting in surprisingly high numbers of adults who don’t simply skip dental visits, but who rarely even step into a dentist’s office.
On the surface, such a situation doesn’t scream “statewide health crisis.” But any healthcare professional will tell you the quality of dental care a person receives has a huge impact on overall health.
That’s what prompted the state to form the Delaware Oral Health Coalition. The advisory group to the Delaware Division of Public Health unites dental professionals, public health agencies, government and others with a vested interest in the overall health of the citizenry to promote awareness of good oral hygiene, says Sarah Matthews, executive director of DOHC.
The broad net the coalition casts is necessary because of the variety of underlying issues that affect oral health. They range from cultural to economic to geographic in nature.
Among the cultural challenges the group faces is ambivalence, says Dr. Gregory McClure, dental director for the Delaware Division of Public Health. In many families, oral health and dental care have never been a priority.
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