Oral Health Program

The Oral Health Program is a state funded program that works to educate the community on healthy oral health habits and promote better oral health in Calaveras County.

The goals for the oral health program are to:

  • Implement school oral health programs 
  • Educate the community on common risk factors for oral disease and chronic disease including tobacco and sugar and promote protective factors that will reduce disease burden
  • Create community awareness around oral health through education and community engagement strategies
  • Collaborate with dental providers and community organizations to address the barriers of receiving dental care

Resources & Links

Oral Health Videos

Test Your Oral Health Knowledge

How much time should I spend brushing my teeth?

14 November 2022

How much time should I spend brushing my teeth?

Answer: At least two minutes

Brush your teeth for two minutes. Make sure to brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.

How often should you brush your teeth?

14 November 2022

How often should you brush your teeth?

Answer: At least twice a day

Brush your teeth for two minutes at least twice a day to help keep your mouth clean.

How often should you floss?

14 November 2022

How often should you floss?

Answer: At least once a day

Tooth decay-causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gums.

True or false, cavities are linked heart disease, osteoporosis and diabetes?

14 November 2022

True or false, cavities are linked heart disease, osteoporosis and diabetes?

Answer: True

The health of your mouth affects the rest of your body.  Keep your mouth healthy to keep you healthy.

True or false, cavities can be spread from person to person?

14 November 2022

True or false, cavities can be spread from person to person?

Answer: True

The germs that led to cavities can be passed from one person to another. Keep your family healthy by brushing and flossing together. Make sure everyone has their own toothbrush.

True or false, keeping your baby teeth healthy will help keep your adult teeth healthy?

14 November 2022

True or false, keeping your baby teeth healthy will help keep your adult teeth healthy?

Answer: True

Baby teeth help make a pathway for the adult teeth as well as help kids chew, speak, eat and smile.

True or false, sugary drinks can harm your teeth?

14 November 2022

True or false, sugary drinks can harm your teeth?

Answer: True

Drinks like soda, diet soda, sweet tea, energy drinks, coffee drinks and sweetened juices can help feed germs that cause cavities.

True or false, tobacco use can harm your teeth?

14 November 2022

True or false, tobacco use can harm your teeth?

Answer: True

Tobacco use in any form can cause oral health issues such as cancer, bad breath, cavities, tooth loss, gum disease and stained teeth. 

If you want to quit tobacco call 1-800-NOBUTTS.

What is a dental cavity?

14 November 2022

What is a dental cavity?

Answer: A hole in your tooth.

Plaque is a sticky film of germs on your teeth. When you eat or drink foods with sugars, the germs in the plaque make acids that attack the outside of your tooth. The stickiness of the plaque keeps these acids in contact with your teeth and over time the tooth can break down. This is when cavities can form. A cavity is a little hole in your tooth.

What is the most common chronic disease in children in the US?

14 November 2022

What is the most common chronic disease in children in the US?

Answer: Dental cavities

Dental cavities remains the most common chronic disease in children aged 6 to 19 years old. Tooth decay is four times more common than asthma among youth aged 14 to 17 years.