Kern County, CA

Good Oral Health Begins With:
Healthy Foods, Drinks, and Snacks
Protein and calcium help keep teeth strong.

Examples include:

• Lean meats
• Nuts and seeds
• Cheese and yogurt
• Fluoridated water

Fluoride varnish is a mineral that helps protect teeth.

• Strengthens tooth enamel (the outer layer of the tooth)
• Applied to all tooth surfaces
• Safe and quick

Dental Sealants
Dental sealants protect back teeth (molars).

• Thin protective coating
• Applied to chewing surfaces only
• Helps prevent food and germs from getting stuck

Tooth Decay (Cavities)

• Cavities are caused by bacteria on teeth
• Bacteria break down food and create acid
• Acid damages tooth enamel
• Cavities are very common in children
• Cavities are more common than asthma

The good news:
Cavities can be prevented!

Handout Information

• OSS Pamphlet - English
• OSS Pamphlet - Spanish
• Fluoride Varnish Info for Parents - English
• Fluoride Varnish Info for Parents - Spanish
• Dental Sealant Info for Parents - English
• Dental Sealant Info for Parents - Spanish

Providers

• Denti-Cal Providers - Bakersfield
• Denti-Cal Providers - Kern County Outlying Areas

Welcome to the Fluoride Varnish Training for approved healthcare workers.
This training teaches how to safely apply fluoride varnish in a clinical setting.

Training steps (complete in order):

1. Pre-Test
2. Training
3. Post-Test

All steps are required.
After completing the post-test, the Local Oral Health Program will contact you within 7–10 days with results and next steps.

Healthy Habits for Healthy Kids

BRUSH

• Brush teeth two times a day for two minutes
• Use a soft washcloth to wipe baby gums
• Children under 3: use a grain-size amount of fluoride toothpaste
• Children ages 3–6: use a pea-size amount
• Make brushing part of a bedtime routine

BOOK
Read with your child at least 15 minutes each day

• Helps language and learning skills
• Builds a strong bedtime routine
• Let your child choose the book

BED
Set a bedtime and stick to it

• Infants need 14–17 hours of sleep each day
• Help kids stay active during the day
• Follow the ABCs of safe sleep (like to safe sleep page)

Helpful links:

• kerncountylibrary.org
• healthychildren.org

• Office of Oral Health – California Department of Public Health
• California Dental Association
• American Dental Association
• Smile, California – Medi-Cal Dental
• Smile California Videos
• American Academy of Pediatrics - Fluoridation