Healthy Teeth

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CMDHD Staff can provide oral screenings and varnish applications for children 6 months to 35 months who are enrolled in our WIC programs and/or are eligible for Medicaid insurance coverage. This does not replace dental exams that children should still be receiving from a local dentist. Varnish application helps to support efforts toward a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. Oral screenings and varnish applications are offered by trained Registered Nurses in all the branch offices at CMDHD.

Registered Nurses can also provide oral screenings twice a year for those without a dental home to determine the need for a referral to a dentist for evaluation and follow-up care. Varnish applications will be performed up to 4 times per year for those clients who are at a high risk of dental cavities and gum disease who are not currently attending regular dental visits. During these appointments, our staff works with clients to help them find and establish care at a local dentist office. The goal of the Oral Screening and Varnish Application Program is to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride varnish is a protective coating that is painted on teeth to help prevent new cavities and to help stop cavities that have already started. Fluoride varnish is endorsed by the American Dental Association and is approved by the FDA. In addition to regular dental care and fluoride, here are some tips from the American Dental Association to keep your young child's mouth healthy:

• Place only formula, milk, or breast milk in bottles. Avoid filling the bottle with liquids such as sugar water, juice, or soft drinks.

• Infants should finish their bedtime and naptime bottles before going to bed.

• If your child uses a pacifier, provide one that is clean—don’t dip it in sugar or honey or put it in your mouth before giving it to the child.

• Encourage children to drink from a cup by their first birthday and discourage frequent or prolonged use of sippy cups.

• Serve nutritious snacks and limit sweets to mealtimes.

• Brush teeth twice daily and clean between teeth daily.

Older children should follow the same rules of regular brushing, flossing, dental visits, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding sugary beverages like juice and soft drinks. Sugars and starches encourage the production of plaque, which can attack tooth enamel. Remember, it’s not just the sugar in soft drinks that decays teeth; it’s the acid too, making this double trouble. If your child chews gum, make it sugarless, as chewing sugarless gum after eating can increase saliva flow and help wash out food and decay-producing acid.

Other Resources

• MDHHS Oral Health Program Information

My Community Dental Centers is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation, established in 2006, dedicated to providing dental services to Medicaid enrollees and low-income, uninsured residents throughout the state of Michigan. 

Locations within our district:

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Mt Pleasant

2020 E. Preston Street
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
989-772-4026
989-772-5931 (Fax)
877-313-6232 (New Patient)
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:30pm

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Harrison

815 N. Clare Ave., Suite C
Harrison, MI 48625
989-630-0760
989-630-0767 (Fax)
877-313-6232 (New Patient)
Hours: Mon-Thu 8:00am-4:30pm

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Roscommon

135 Lake St
Roscommon, MI 48653
989-275-0725
989-275-0729 (Fax)
877-313-6232 (New Patient)
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:30pm