Oral Health

Oral health is essential for general health and well-being. Oral health problems affect not only the ability to eat and speak but are inter-connected with serious health issues like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and preterm or low birth weight. But the good news is that oral health problems are preventable. A healthy smile for life starts with healthy habits like brushing and flossing, using fluoride, making smart food choices and eating habits, and visiting the dentist at least yearly.

While the Missouri Office of Dental Health does not offer direct care such as extractions, prosthetics/dentures, composite and silver fillings, and professional cleanings, we are committed to improving the oral health of all Missourians through education, prevention and leadership.

Teeth: Your body’s early warning system - Marielle Pariseau DMD

The oral health of Missouri’s children is in crisis. Find out what Missouri’s Office of Dental Health and other dental health providers are doing and what the medical community can do to improve the oral health of Missouri’s children. Special thanks to Carol Berger, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, BS; Scott Argus, MA, MFA; Lilli Kayes, MFA; and Carl Leta for creating and providing this documentary.

Public Service Announcements Regarding Fluoridation Benefits

• Community
• Smile
• Health Choice

Recent News – Fluoride in Drinking Water

• State-Level Costs of Removing Fluoride from Community Water Systems
• Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) releases study on elimination of community water fluoridation
• Projected outcomes of Removing Fluoride From US Public Water Systems
• Federal Regulation of Fluoride in Drinking Water

Recent News

• Rural Parish Clinic – Dental Van, Archdiocese of St. Louis will be in Troy, August 5-11 and Cadet, August 13-11. The clinic provides services to uninsured residents ages 16-65. To learn more and register, click on the clinic name above.
• Franklin Technology Center in Joplin, MO has updated the Dental Assistant Program. The program starts August 6, 2025. Visit the Franklin Technology Center webpage for more information.
• Dentists and Dental Hygienists play a crucial role in delivering health care. The MU Center for Health Policy invites Dentists and Dental Hygienists working in Missouri to participate in a confidential workforce survey. The collected data provides clarity to better understand the characteristics of the Dental and Dental Hygienist workforce in Missouri, including practice locations, specialties, availability, and demographic characteristics. Below are the two surveys for Dental Hygienists and Dentists.
  • Dental Hygienist Survey: https://redcap.link/DentalHygienistSurvey
  • Dentist Survey: https://redcap.link/DentalSurvey
  To learn more about the MU Office of Health Outreach, Policy & Education visit: https://hope.missouri.edu/center-for-health-policy/. To learn more about the Missouri Health Care Workforce Project visit: https://mohealthcareworkforce.org/.
• Be good to your Teeth: Regular flossing reduces risk of stroke, AFib
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Missouri
  Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library offers free books to children under the age of 5 at no cost to parents or caregivers. To learn more, go to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Missouri to sign up your child.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics has created a great resource for parents to help you structure a nighttime routine for your child that includes brushing teeth, reading a book and creating a regular bedtime for ages 0-6. HealthyChildren.org – Brush, Book, Bed
• Do you know what fluoride varnish is? Learn more in this video: Fluoride Varnish – A Cavity Fighting Tool!
• Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges is a culmination of two years of research and writing by over 400 contributors. As a follow up to the Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health in America, this report explores the nation's oral health over the last 20 years.