Below is the Oral Disease and Injury Prevention section of the Maryland Oral Health Plan, 2026-2030. Click here to download the full Maryland Oral Health Plan
Oral Disease and Injury Prevention
Prevention is the key to reducing the burden of oral diseases. Advancing social determinants of health and community collaboration are the primary strategies that comprise the prevention plan. To produce meaningful improvements in oral health, oral health inequities and disparities must be addressed, including making educational materials and campaigns accessible in languages other than English.
Goal One: Advance social, physical and economic environments that reduce disparities and enhance oral health equity for all Marylanders.
Strategy One: Increase access to oral health care, by increasing the number of people enrolled in the Maryland Healthy Smiles Program, increasing use of oral health care, increasing the number of people with a dental home and disaggregating data by race, ethnicity and other demographic factors.
Strategy Two: Increase the number of safety net dental programs, including school-based dental screening and sealant programs.
Strategy Three: Promote healthy environment interventions, such as safe sidewalks, gyms, parks and limiting access to vaping products.
Strategy Four: Monitor and review key health surveillance data on an ongoing basis to identify opportunities for partnership and action.
Goal Two: Continue the current recommended level of water fluoridation for public water supplies in Maryland.
Strategy One: Work closely with the Maryland Department of Health, Office of Oral Health, Maryland Department of Environment, Maryland Rural Water Association and other strategic partners to maintain the current recommended level of water fluoridation.
Strategy Two: Assess and update current educational materials for community members, organizations, health providers and legislators on community water fluoridation, including materials in languages other than English. Ensure that these materials include current science-based information. Develop new resources, if gaps are identified.
Strategy Three: Expand and improve community water fluoridation education campaigns to provide accurate information and increase understanding of fluoride to prevent tooth decay, particularly in children.
Strategy Four: Build and maintain partnerships with community organizations and health provider associations to advance educational campaigns.
Goal Three: Improve oral disease and injury prevention by promoting oral health literacy and education programs.
Strategy One: Increase oral health literacy awareness by conducting public health campaigns and establishing programs that educate the public about the importance of oral health. Campaigns should be culturally competent, available in other languages and include proactive steps that can be taken to improve oral health, especially for populations at high risk for oral disease.
Strategy Two: Provide health professionals with tools and resources to help them communicate clearly with their patients, clients and the public about oral disease and injury prevention. Where needed, help health professionals locate and use resources and training to make communication more comfortable and effective.
Strategy Three: Partner with schools, charitable and social service organizations, faith-based groups and community groups to spread oral health information more widely throughout the community.
Strategy Four: Increase the use of social media to conduct health information marketing targeted to people at high risk for oral disease and injury (e.g., smoking cessation, vaping cessation, oral cancer, overconsumption of sugary beverages, HPV vaccination, wearing mouthguards during sports).
Goal Four: Engage stakeholders in creating and implementing state and local policies to improve oral health for all to reduce oral disease and injuries.
Strategy One: Increase policies that address workforce shortages, including scholarships, loan repayment programs, grants for community health centers and dental providers in HPSA areas and licensure compacts.
Strategy Two: Expand oral and medical health integration initiatives statewide, including obesity screening in dental settings, referral for nutritional and healthy lifestyle counseling, smoking and vaping cessation and oral health care for pregnant individuals.
Strategy Three: Promote and share information that supports mandates for community water fluoridation, anti-vaping, dental exam requirements for school enrollment and healthy snacks, drinks, and lunches for school children.
