Oral Health Strategies

NACCHO Announces Awards to Support Fluoridation in Local Communities

Date: May 4, 2017
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Adult Dental, Oral Health Strategies

In January 2017, National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), in partnership with the CDC, announced the project “Building Capacity for Oral Health: Fluoridation Equipment in Local Communities,” designed to support communities to either replace aging water fluoridation equipment or install new equipment for CWF. This one-time funding opportunity also helped to identify the need for assistance to support core infrastructure and inform future opportunities for similar projects.

While these community water systems work to diligently maintain their equipment, aging equipment poses a challenge after many years of use, particularly for small systems where resources are scarce. NACCHO received 27 grant applications from 13 states. A total of $125,000 was awarded to the following six grantees:

  • Bowling Green Municipal Utilities, KY (pop. 125,000)
  • City of Fircrest, WA (pop. 6,500)
  • City of Kannapolis, NC (pop. 53,100)
  • Jefferson Parish Water Department East Bank, LA (pop. 243,782)
  • Versailles Municipal Utility, KY (pop. 6,200)
  • West Virginia Oral Health Coalition, WV (pop. 1,634)

Pierce County Dental Society – Children’s Oral Health Day
Date: January 9, 2017
Photo By: Dawn Jacobs

It’s time for the Pierce County Dental Society’s 27th Annual Children’s Dental Health Day! 

The event is on Saturday, February 24th at 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the South Hill Mall in Puyallup.

There are tons of Free Activities for Kids!

  • Dental Goodie Bags
  • Face Painting
  • Dental Screenings for Anyone in the Family
  • Free and Low-cost referrals for those who qualify
  • Flouride Varnish Applications
  • Sports Mouthguards
  • Lives demos by “Chompy the Carrot”!
  • Table Clinics with Dental Health Education

Special Appearances from the Wisdom Tooth and the Tooth Fairy!!!

Event sponsored by the Pierce County Dental Society, Pierce County Dental Foundation and the Washington Dental Service Foundation

School kids get oral health goody bags

Date: February 19, 2016
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: ABCD, Chidren's Dental, Child Dental, Oral Health Strategies, Uncategorized

Dental decay is a prevalent childhood disease in the USA, responsible for many missed or unfocused days in school due to pain and required treatment. Oral health is sometimes overlooked but is vitally important to a child’s development and ability to concentrate and stay in school.

To put a dent in this trend and support healthy smiles for all children in Pierce County, the Pierce County Oral Health Coalition teamed up in February to assemble over 800 oral health goody bags for kids! Using PCOHC member-donated supplies, each goody bag contained an age appropriate toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and valuable information on how to maintain great oral health and hygiene.

We delivered the bags to St. Leo’s Food Connection in Tacoma. Kevin Glackin-Coley, Executive Director at the St. Leo’s Food Connection is thrilled to be able to share these oral health items with the many 100’s of Clover Park and Tacoma school district students (K-12) who receive a nutritious weekly meal as part of St. Leo’s weekend Backpack Program.

Fortunately, dental decay is nearly 100% preventable and with the necessary tools, good hygiene is a brush and floss away. Nutrition also significantly affects dental health and hence, partnering with St. Leo’s healthy weekend food program was a natural for the oral health coalition.  Project participant organizations included Bates Technical College/Dental Assisting School, Community Health Care, Coordinated Care, Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children, Pierce County Community Connections, Pierce County Dental Society, Puget Sound ESD, SeaMar Community Health, and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department/ABCD and School Nurse programs.

Find additional information about St. Leo’s food connection programs, as well as helpful oral health resources for children:

Pierce County Oral Health Coalition: www.pcohc.org

St. Leo’s Food Connection Backpack Program: http://www.foodconnection.org/pages/backpack.htm

Access to Baby and Child Dentistry: http://www.tpchd.org/health-wellness-1/abcd-access-to-baby-child/

Pierce County Library System: http://www.piercecountylibrary.org/kids-teens/parents-caregivers/early-learning/children-oral-health.htm

National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center: http://mchoralhealth.org/toolbox/families.php

WA Dental Service Foundation: https://www.deltadentalwa.com/our-foundation/educational-materials.aspx

 

Today and tomorrow only! Ages 50+ dental care seminar

Date: February 18, 2016
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Adult Dental, Oral health pathology, Oral Health Strategies, Oral Systemic Health

Oral health care is important at every age!

Today and tomorrow afternoon, Pierce County Community Connections is hosting a “Caring for Your Teeth after 50” seminar as follows:

  • February 18, 2016, 12:10-12:50 p.m. at the County City Building, Rainier Conference Room, 7th Floor, 930 S. Tacoma Avenue, Tacoma
  • February 19, 2016, 12:10-12:50 p.m. at the Pierce County Annex, 2401 S. 35th Street, Tacoma

“Caring for Your Teeth after 50” will provide important information about effective oral care and health. Particularly after 50 years of age, the mouth and teeth begin to change. This is often compounded by changes in diet and metabolism, increased use of medications and other medical conditions. In addition, people visit their dentist less frequently. Oral health is also directly linked to many chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and dementia.

“Older adults have to pay attention to their oral health,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, Manager of Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources. “Good health, good diet and good teeth are closely connected. We want people to understand the connections and learn about the enormous benefits of ongoing prevention.”

The workshops will be presented by Claire Brannan, BS, owner of Mobile Classes and Consulting. Clare teaches classes to caregivers and seniors to help them better understand common issues facing aging adults. Her presentation is sponsored by the Washington Dental Services Foundation and Pierce County Aging & Disability Resources.

All sessions are free and there is no RSVP required. For more information please call the Pierce County Aging & Disability Resource Center at (253) 798-4600 or (800) 562-0332. In case of inclement weather call (253) 798-8787 for possible postponement or cancellation.

 

Tooth Fairy, Super Tooth and Chompy the Carrot coming to Puyallup!

Date: January 14, 2016
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: ABCD, Chidren's Dental, Child Dental, Oral Health Strategies, Volunteer Dental Care

Children's Dental Health Day Poster

February is Children’s Dental Health month…a fabulous time to promote oral health for all kids!

For the 25th year, the Pierce County Dental Society, with help from the Pierce County Dental Foundation and Washington Dental Service Foundation, is hosting Children’s Dental Health Day on Saturday, February 20, 2016…open to the community. The Tooth Fairy, Super Tooth and Chompy the Carrot will be joined by Pierce County dentists, Pierce County Oral Health Coalition members and others to offer FREE oral health services, information and resources, kids’ drawing contest with prizes plus other valuable and fun activities at the Puyallup South Hill Mall.

Share this event information and the gift of oral health with the families and children in your community!

“What’s Trending” Oral Health Symposium a success

Date: November 20, 2015
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Drug trends and oral health impact, E-cigarettes, Oral health pathology, Oral Health Strategies, Oral Health Trends, Oral Systemic Health, Sleep Apnea, STD's, Vapor cigarettes

On October 3, 2015 PCOHC hosted a full house at its “What’s Trending in Oral Health” symposium at Bates Technical College in Tacoma.

The gathering garnered positive reviews for presentations and speakers, with topics covering sexually transmitted diseases and the oral cavity, sleep apnea and the dental connection, as well as current Pierce County drug and cigarette-alternative drug trends and their associated oral health implications. Thank you to our wonderful speakers and to all who attended and provided feedback including for future conferences. We also wish to acknowledge and thank our generous Symposium Sponsors for making this event possible.

 

Click on the following links for detailed symposium information: