Oral Health Education
Oral Cancer Awareness
The Mitchell Cancer Insitute in collaboration with the Oral Health Office would like to remind you to Watch Your Mouth! Take action to prevent oral cancer by performing your own 7-step self-exam in between dental visits. For more information on oral cancer screenings, visit the National Cancer Institute.
The American Cancer Society estimates that about 53,260 people will be diagnosed this year with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers, including tonsil cancer. In the PSA below, Dr. David Bronner, CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, encourages Alabamians to have regular health check-ups and screenings with dentists.
Watch it on YouTube. Watch the longer version where Dr. Bronner discusses his cancer diagnosis and experience.
#WatchYourMouth
What's better than a cure for cancer? Not needing one. The "#WatchYourMouth for Signs of Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer" campaign emphasizes the importance of performing oral cancer self-exams and getting the HPV vaccine. View the new "#WatchYourMouth" materials below:
Please email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on ordering these materials.
HPV Vaccine
Did you know that HPV can lead to oral and oropharyngeal cancers? Did you also know that this type of cancer is harder to discover than tobacco-related cancers because the symptoms are not always obvious to the individual who is developing the disease, or to professionals that are looking for it?
The HPV vaccine is cancer prevention! Boys and girls ages 11 or 12 need just two doses to protect them against HPV-related cancers. Talk to your healthcare provider to make sure your children are protected. Get the facts at www.uab.edu/cancer/hpv
- Protecting Our Children From HPV Cancers
- HPV Is Cancer Prevention
- Sons and Daughters 11-12 Years Old
Community Water Fluoridation Fluoridation
Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) is simply the adjusting of the amount of fluoride found naturally in surface and groundwater to a level safe enough to help prevent cavities. CWF has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as one of the Ten Greatest Health Achievements of the Twentieth Century and is able to reach all income levels and age groups across Alabama. For information on exactly how this is possible, check out the following link:
Dental Health Education
Dental Health Education programs and materials are available on a limited basis to a variety of groups and organizations including elementary schools, preschool programs, Head Start Centers, and Day Care programs. Continuing education credits may be available for staff or group presentations that are approved for quality.
The Oral Health Branch provides coloring books, activity booklets, fact sheets, and other printed materials as available. Videos are available on a free-loan basis, as well as largemouth models and puppets for brushing or flossing demonstrations.
For more information, please contact the Oral Health Office through the Bureau of Family Health Services at (334) 205-5675.
Smile Makers Activity Books
The following activity books were created by the Office of Oral Health in partnership with dti.troy design program at Troy University.
Download Activity Book
Recommended for Kindergarten to 4th Grade
Designed by Thomas Jones for dti.center
Download Activity Book
Recommended for 5th Grade and Up
Designed by Ryan McCullough for dti.center
Additional Resources
Page last updated: June 8, 2023
