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Resources for Improving Your Oral Health

Improving your oral health can have a significant impact on your overall health and well-being. These resources will inform you about evidence-based, best practices that you can implement at home.

  • Visit Your Dentist
    Infants should go to the dentist when their first tooth erupts or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. Then, for the rest of your life, go to the dentist twice a year to make sure your mouth, teeth, and gums are healthy. Find a dentist near you.

  • Brush Your Teeth Two Times A Day
    Brush your teeth at least two times a day with fluoridated toothpaste to protect your teeth and clean out bacteria in your mouth that can cause tooth decay, commonly known as cavities.

  • Drink Fluoridated Water
    Avoid sugar sweetened beverages, which cause cavities, and instead drink water.  Drink fluoridated water, if possible, to help protect your teeth from bacteria.

Resources for Everyone

The CDPH created these resources that provide general tips, best practices, and steps you can take that address the following topics: Tips for a Healthy Smile (PDF)Dental Disease Prevention (PDF), Dental Decay Process (PDF),  and Dental Injury Prevention (PDF)

Other Organizations have developed resources that everyone can use:

Resources for Pregnant Women and Infants

Resources for Children

Resources for Adults

  • Denti-Cal for Adults Fact Sheet: Some adults enrolled in Medicaid in California, commonly known as Medi-Cal, may have dental benefits through Medi-Cal Dental.

  • Brushing (PDF): Step-by-step directions with images on how to brush your teeth.

  • Flossing (PDF):  Instructions on how to floss your teeth.

Resources for Fluoridation

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is an effective way to prevent and protect teeth from tooth decay. Fluoride stops or can even reverse the tooth decay process, keeping tooth enamel strong and solid, for both children and adults. 

  • Fluoride Varnish – Helping Smiles Stay Strong (PDF): Fluoride varnish is a protective coating that is painted on the teeth to protect teeth against tooth decay. This brochure provides an overview of fluoride varnish and a parent checklist after fluoride varnish. Fluoride Varnish, English.  Fluoride Varnish, Spanish

  • I Like My Teeth: The Campaign for Dental Health provides information for health professionals, scientists, and the public on fluoridated water and community water fluoridation. 

  • Fluoride Science: The Center for Fluoride Research Analysis evaluates fluoride science by offering topic summaries with abstracts and bibliographies, critical appraisals, critical review and analysis, and interviews with scientists.

If you are having difficulty accessing any of these documents, please contact CDPH at dentaldirector@cdph.ca.gov to request this information in an alternate format.
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