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MDH Oral Health Program Winter Newsletter 2025
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View this as a webpage
Celebrating Children’s Dental Health Month
February was National Children's Dental Health Month! Last month served as a reminder of the importance of oral health for children and the role it plays in their overall wellbeing. Cavities are almost entirely preventable, yet they remain the most common chronic childhood disease in the U.S., affecting children's ability to eat, speak, and learn. By encouraging healthy habits early, we can help kids stay pain-free, ready to learn, and on the path to healthy lifelong oral health habits!
MDH is asking parents and caregivers to promote children's oral health by following these steps:
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Brush and floss early: Baby teeth are vulnerable to decay from the first appearance. Brush the child's teeth for two minutes, twice a day, and floss as soon as the teeth start touching each other.
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Choose healthy food: Encourage children to have fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Drink tap water with fluoride: Fluoride in water prevents cavities and is a good substitute for sugary drinks.
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Establish a dental home: Schedule a child's first dental visit by their first birthday or when their first tooth appears. A dental home provides continuous, family-centered care, helping set the child up for a lifetime of healthy habits.
Get more resources: Visit Mouth Monsters for helpful tips and information.
The MDH Oral Health Program (OHP) appreciates oral health professionals, health care providers, and community partners who work year-round to promote good oral health.
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Oral Health Champion
Recognizing Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner
Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Brooke Cunningham has been a remarkable advocate for oral health. As a physician and the keynote speaker at the Oral Health Policy Forum in November 2024, she addressed over 100 dental stakeholders, highlighting the importance of preventing dental disease and improving access to oral health care.
The Commissioner has taken significant steps by listening to community stories about the barriers to dental access and ensuring that oral health remains a priority at the agency level. Dr. Cunningham’s leadership in shaping policies and initiatives that impact the state's oral health landscape is truly appreciated, and we are grateful for her dedication and commitment to this important issue.
Thank you, Commissioner Cunningham, for being a passionate champion for oral health and helping the Oral Health Program and our partners to include the mouth when thinking about overall health. Learn more about Commissioner Cunningham.
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Pictured here (left to right): John Pournoor, Ph.D., Chief Executive Office at Government Analytica LLC; Nancy Franke Wilson, MS, Executive Director at Minnesota Oral Health Coalition; Carmelo Cinqueonce, MBA, Executive Director at Minnesota Dental Association; Dr. Brooke Cunningham, Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner.
MDH's Efforts to Improve Children's Oral Health
Early Dental Disease Prevention Initiative
was established by the legislature in 2015. This initiative focuses on raising awareness among communities of color and recent immigrants about the importance of early dental care for infants and toddlers, both before and after their primary teeth emerge. This initiative includes a community based oral health education, materials and outreach to maternal-child health partners, non-dental health professionals, and communities. The program provides “Brushing for Two” oral hygiene kits to health partners for distribution at clinics and community locations, and educational materials to encourage prevention of cavities and seeing a dental professional for the first tooth and first birthday. The Oral Health Program is deeply thankful for our grantees and partners who help us in improving maternal-child oral health.
Through a cooperative agreement between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), MDH Oral Health Program developed SEAL Minnesota with input and collaboration from various dental and public health partners across the state. SEAL Minnesota supports school-based dental programs to deliver dental sealants, oral health education, and other oral health services to children in school settings.
The Oral Health Program will continue to promote school-based dental services by:
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Supporting partners to bring preventive dental services into schools especially in dental-professional shortage areas.
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Increasing awareness about the importance of oral health by developing and disseminating targeted education materials.
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Collaborating with stakeholders to integrate oral health into broader public health system.
Outreach Efforts
Community Education Kits
OHP will soon begin train-the-trainer sessions on Community Education Kits! Led by our Oral Health Community Coordinator, Ndekela Sakala, these trainings will provide a comprehensive oral health curriculum. This easy-to-use tool is designed to help educators, health workers, and community leaders pass on essential oral health knowledge to children, youth, and parents/caregivers.
As part of our community outreach, OHP provides presentations and events to promote children's oral health. Recently, we hosted Healthy Smiles, Healthy Families at Way to Grow in Minneapolis, where we spoke with families about oral health, disease prevention, and at-home care. Infant oral hygiene kits were also provided. If you’re interested in presentations or materials, please contact us at Health.Oral@state.mn.us.
Statewide Presentations
OHP presented at several statewide convenings every year. Topics include prenatal oral health, dental considerations for children with special health care needs, early dental disease prevention strategies, and integration of oral health into the school system. These events were geared towards local public health agencies, Child and Teen Checkups and pediatric care coordinators, and dental and maternal child health partners.
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Jonathan Suhl (he/him), joined the Minnesota Department of Health in mid-July as the epidemiologist for the Asthma and Oral Health programs. Following completion of his Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of Iowa in 2017, he continued his work at the University, primarily examining environmental factors and birth defects. He hopes to use his experience and expertise to further develop a comprehensive framework to describe and examine oral health in Minnesota. Jonathan can be reached at Jonathan.Suhl@state.mn.us. |
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Liz Corey (she/her), is a lifelong Midwesterner with a background in case management, public health prevention, and program evaluation. Liz received her Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child with a minor in Epidemiology from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Liz has worked for the Minnesota Department of Health previously in a few different divisions ranging from infectious disease surveillance to family home visiting. Liz is excited to bring her evaluation skills to the Center for Health Promotion and is looking forward to connecting with partners. Liz lives in North Minneapolis with her partner Andy and their cat Pepper. Outside of work, Liz loves a hot sauna, a long run on a chilly day, and a good fiction book. Liz can be reached at liz.corey@state.mn.us. |
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Nick Sprenkel (he/him), a Master of Science in Data Science student at the University of Michigan, currently works as a data analyst paraprofessional student senior worker with several teams within the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease (HPCD) Division. He brings valuable experience from his time in the United States Marine Corps and the health care industry. Nick previously earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics. Additionally, he participated in a study at the University of Minnesota, where he learned that he can detect surface variations as small as 2.5 microns. We are grateful to have Nick on board, bringing his diverse range of experiences to support HPCD’s data projects Nick can be reached at nicholas.sprenkel@state.mn.us. |
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Katya Ivanchuk (she/her), a Master of Public Health student specializing in Maternal and Child Health at the University of Minnesota, currently works as a research and communications paraprofessional student senior worker in the Oral Health Program. She brings a diverse range of experiences, including her role as a legal secretary at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and as a community health intern at Leap Pediatric and Adolescent Care in St. Paul, Minnesota. With a Bachelor of Science in Family Social Science, she excels in community outreach, effectively engaging various communities to promote health and well-being. Katya enjoys oil painting in her free time and trying different restaurants in the Twin Cities. Katya can be reached at yekaterina.ivanchuk@state.mn.us. |
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Sheeneng Yang (he/him), an AmeriCorps Volunteer and currently works as a Public Health Project Coordinator/ Aging and Oral Health Re in the Oral Health Program. He recently graduated with his Master of Social Work specializing in Anti-Oppressive Macro Practice in May of 2024, and currently getting his Master of Business Administration in Leadership at Augsburg University. Sheeneng brings his experience from Ramsey County as a nursing home social worker and a MnChoices Assessor. Prior to that, he was a Peace Corps Volunteer serving in Mongolia from 2017-2019. With his experience in serving others, he continues to contribute to the health care field with a macro perspective and aims to enhance service delivery, create sustainable solutions, and positive change. Sheeneng enjoys being outdoors, working out, and training to run a 10k this spring. Sheeneng can be reached at sheeneng.yang@state.mn.us. |
Resources
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