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 2023 Water Fluoridation Status**
2023 List of Massachusetts Cities/Towns by Community Water Fluoridation Status
*Receives fluoridated water from the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA)
**Please note: 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