Pregnancy and oral health
From the First Tooth/Before the First Tooth is a New England regional pediatric oral health initiative that started in Maine. This campaign promotes the oral health of infants, toddlers, and preschool children in primary care, with resources for parents, caregivers, and providers. See their page on Pregnancy and Dental Care for resources for expectant mothers and more: https://www.fromthefirsttooth.org/before-the-first-tooth/
Some other guides and tip sheets for expectant parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers:
- Two Healthy Smiles: Tips to Keep You and Your Baby Healthy http://www.mchoralhealth.org/PDFs/PregnancyBrochure.pdf – This brochure is designed to educate women about the importance of oral hygiene and oral health care during pregnancy. Topics include brushing, flossing, eating healthy foods, and getting dental checkups and treatment.
- Protect Your Baby’s Smile & Health Before and After Birth
Available at HPDP_Preg_Oral_Health_Patient_Pamphlet.pdf (healthvermont.gov) or https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/HPDP_Preg_Oral_Health_Patient_Pamphlet.pdf - Healthy Teeth for You and Your Baby
In English and Spanish, from teethfirstri.org:
https://www.teethfirstri.org/sites/default/files/site-content/TF-OBGYN-QuadFold-PROOF_V2.pdf
Oral health and tobacco
According to the US CDC, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, and type 2 diabetes. Cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and other forms of tobacco cause oral cancer, gum disease, and other oral health problems.
Check these sources and links for more information, data, infographics, and other resources.
- US CDC Division of Oral Health – Fast Facts on Tobacco Use
https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/fast-facts/tobacco-use/index.html - US CDC – Smoking & Tobacco Use
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/index.htm - World Health Organization, Tobacco Free Initiative: Toolkit for Oral Health Professionals to Deliver Brief Tobacco Interventions n Primary Care
https://www.who.int/tobacco/publications/smoking_cessation/toolkit-oral-health-professionals/en/ - American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Policy on Tobacco Use (2020)
https://www.aapd.org/globalassets/media/policies_guidelines/p_tobaccouse.pdf
Policy on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) “E-cigarettes” (2020)
https://www.aapd.org/globalassets/media/policies_guidelines/p_electroniccig.pdf
Maine
- From the Maine CDC: Lung Injury Associated with E-Cigarette Use or Vaping
https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/vaping.shtml - MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence
https://ctimaine.org/
Diabetes and oral health
Research suggests that people with diabetes are at higher risk for oral health problems, particularly periodontal (gum) disease, and because diabetes can hinder the body’s ability for healing, it can interfere with treatment of periodontal disease. This can be a two-way challenge: periodontal disease may also make it hard to control blood glucose levels.
This tip sheet from the American Diabetes Association provides information on what to know and steps to take:
https://professional.diabetes.org/sites/professional.diabetes.org/files/pel/source/sci-advisor_2018_diabetes_oral_health_v4.pdf
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research’s National Oral Health Information Center also provides a tip sheet here:
https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/Diabetes-Dental-Tips.pdf