Oral Health in Washington Faces Challenges OLYMPIA - Washington rates low in terms of several cost-effective prevention measures for tooth decay, such as fluoride and dental sealant programs in schools. Those are among the findings in the first-ever report on oral health in the state. "Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children, five times more common than asthma," said State Health Officer Dr. Maxine Hayes. "Good oral health for both children and adults dramatically improves their quality of life." The report, The Impact of Oral Disease on the Lives of Washingtonians, shows that Washington is a public health pioneer on many topics and initiatives. Examples include the Smile Survey, the Community Roots for Oral Health Coalitions manual, and the revised Bright Futures Oral Health/Tooth Tutor educational materials. Many of these have been adopted by other states. "Oral diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease are important public health issues because they affect many people and can be costly to treat," said Dr. Joseli Alves-Dunkerson, supervisor of the agency’s Oral Health Program. "Fortunately, most oral diseases can be prevented with simple and effective measures." The report shows Washington has met several national guidelines for dental public health (known as Healthy People 2010), including tooth loss in younger and older adults and having a system for recording and referring infants and children with cleft lips and cleft palates. The state has oral health programs in all of its 35 local health agencies, 32 of which rely on their own local oral health coalitions made up of community participants. For the rest of this article please visit www.doh.wa.gov. Contact a local dentist to learn more about how to maintain your oral heath!