'Watch Your Mouth' Emphasizes Importance Of Oral Health

SIDNEY – “Watch Your Mouth,” a new video campaign, doesn’t stress the importance of using appropriate language, rather the focus of the program is good oral health.

The campaign, recently been released by Nebraska Health and Human Services Office of Oral Health and Dentistry, will include television ads, outdoor billboards, radio public service announcements, youtube.com videos and educational brochures with titles such as Swapping Spit and Keep Them Smiling.

The campaign is part of a federal grant focused on two key messages, according to a recent news release.

The first message stresses the need for children to visit a dentist annually, beginning at age one, to ensure a good start to oral health practices.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, U.S. children miss 750,000 days of school each year due to dental problems that are largely preventable.

Local dentist Michael Neal explained that time missed from school can be due to mouth pain and trouble chewing which affects nutrition and even self esteem issues.

“Psychologically does (decay) make a big difference – absolutely,” Neal said.
“We are just trying to educate parents both on good dental care and home care to avoid problems and build a positive experience for children to avoid dental fear with non-threatening and positive outcomes,” Neal said. “Dentistry has long emphasized preventative care, which is why government health-care plans don’t address dentistry.”

The second focus of the campaign is that oral health directly affects many aspects of total health. Studies suggest that those with good oral health also have a lower risk of heart disease, oral cancer, and diabetes complications.

Additionally, February is Children’s Dental Health Month – a great time to emphasize good oral health to families with young children.

To celebrate the month and increase education, the office is sponsoring the first Healthy Smiles Art and Writing Contest for children in grades kindergarten through eighth.

Winners of that contest will be chosen from three grades and will receive a prize as well as have their winning entries posted online.

“Good oral health can make a real difference in a person’s quality of life,” said Dr. Joann Schaefer, Nebraska’s chief medical officer and director of public health for DHHS. “We hope the Watch Your Mouth campaign will result in parents making dental health a bigger priority for their children, and for all Nebraskans to learn how they can improve their quality of life in a big way by taking care of their teeth and gums.”

Neal agrees, stating that dentists are seeing an increase in tooth decay in young children. He attributed this to children drinking more soft drinks and sugar-y sports drinks as opposed to water as well as fewer dental visits.

Oftentimes, lack of insurance and state funding is a reason parents put off seeking care for their children, but occasionally the benefits are there and the opportunity just has not been taken.

Programs are available for children whose families lack coverage, including Dental Day provided by the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry and the Nebraska Mission of Mercy offered by the Nebraska Dental Association.

Dental Day will be offered in Sidney in June for children ages 4 through 18, whose families meet certain criteria.

Mission of Mercy, offered to children and adults, will be offered in Alliance on July 13 and July 14. This event will be given on a first-come-first-served basis with a triage aspect as well to ensure serious problems are cared for.

“That is an annual event that rotates across the state,” Neal said.

Additionally, there are public health clinics offering adjusted fees based on income, such as the Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska Clinic in Gering and others in North Platte and Chadron.

Campaign materials can be found online at dhhs.ne.gov/healthysmiles.
For more information, contact the Office of Oral Health at 402-471-0166 or via email at ordhhs.oralhealth@nebraska.gov.