Oral Health Disease Prevention Information
Prevention is key to good oral health.
Patient Fact Sheets:
Additional information including overviews and provider fact sheets are available on Massachusetts Oral Health Series (MOHS).
For Healthcare Providers
Clinical Recommendations for Infancy, Childhood, and Adolescence:
| Confirm (or refer to) Dental Home, Perform Risk Assessment | Starting from 6 months old and reconfirming an active dental home at each visit until age 5, and then continue reconfirming annually thereafter. The first dental office visit should occur by age 1. |
|---|---|
| Apply Topical Fluoride Varnish | Starting from 6 months old (first tooth erupted) apply fluoride varnish up to every 3 months until at least age 5. |
| Consider Prescribing Oral Fluoride Supplementation (non-fluoridated communities only) | Starting from 6 months old, based on individual town/city community water fluoridation status, continue supplements until age 16 or change in related community water fluoridation status. |
Search by City or Town Name
Based on 2021 Water Fluoridation Status**
*Receives fluoridated water from the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA)
**Please note: Some communities in Massachusetts, and in other states, are being impacted by shortages in fluoride product supply, starting as early as late 2021, therefore the current status of some fluoridated communities may be different than what is listed due to a temporary suspension of fluoridation.
References
Population Source: 2016-2020 ACS Population Estimate
Prevention of Dental Caries in Children Younger Than 5 Years: Screening and Interventions