Community Outreach

The Children's Oral Health Program of Monterey County (COHPMC) can help families with children from age 0-5 years or pregnant woman with dental services and education.

The overall goal of this project is to improve the oral health of children ages 0-5 in Monterey County by reducing the prevalence of dental caries and untreated diseases so that they may enter preschool programs and kindergarten with optimal oral health and readiness to learn.s

We are also certified assistants for the Healthy Families program. The Healthy Families Program is low cost insurance that provides health, dental and vision coverage to children who do not have insurance today and do not qualify for no-cost Medi-Cal. We can assist you in filling out the required paperwork and prescreen for eligibility.

COHPMC provides dental screenings and education programs at schools, daycare centers and community health fairs. To see a list of upcoming events or to schedule our van for your event, click here.

CAVITIES OR DENTAL CARIES ARE CONTAGIOUS

Along with other factors, the presence of bacteria is the main cause of cavities in children. The children receive the bacteria usually from the mother or other caregiver. In fact, there are two "windows of infectivity" where children are more likely to acquire the bacteria. The first window is when the child is around 9-14 months of age. The second is 4 to 6 years of age. The goal of COHPMC is to prevent transmission in the first window of infectivity.

Poor oral hygiene, diet, and bacteria all cause cavities. In our presentations, we discuss all of these factors. With emphasis on the bacteria, we also stress the importance of diet and good oral hygiene. Some messages that we relay to parents are:

Brush with Fluoridated Toothpaste

Floss Daily

Correctly Brush Your Child's Teeth

Limit Snacking

Eat 5 Servings of Fruit and Vegetables

Fluoride Intake

Assistance to Access for Dental Care

SALIVA TESTING FOR PREGNANT MOMS AND MOMS WITH NEW BORNS

The Children's Oral Health program is currently working with mothers who are pregnant and mothers who have newborn babies. WIC, Natividad OB-GYN Clinic, and referrals from other agencies are our current population. Outreach and education are given to these parents while testing their levels of bacteria. Proper oral hygiene and transmission factors are discussed with moms to control levels of bacteria in their mouths. Use of xylitol gumis being discussed for distribution to mothers within the "window of infectivity".

Data for Oral Health Assessments for Mothers

View the Caries Rist test Process (saliva test)

FREE VIDEOS FOR MONTEREY COUNTY DENTAL AND HEALTH PROVIDERS

COHP is part of Easy Steps to Oral Health Campaign. ESOH has developed three videos regarding the oral health of children and pregnant mothers. This wonderful educational tool breaks the barriers of illiteracy and shares oral health information to parents. Included with these videos are postcards that return feedback information to COHP for outreach and education. If you are not a Monterey County Provider, Please visit this link for ordering information.