February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and a pediatric dentist says simple daily habits can protect your child’s smile for life.

Key takeaways:Issues in your mouth could be a sign of osteoporosis, a condition that weakens your bones.Watch for cavities, discolored teeth, loose teeth and gum discomfort.Good oral health includes brushing and flossing regularly, seeing a dentist, avoiding smoking and avoiding a high-sugar diet.

Happy Holidays from students, residents, faculty and staff at University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry! Explore our programs and clinical services at: https://www.pacific.edu/dental

The new law bars the specific ways private equity groups and hedge funds are influencing dentists’ and physicians’ professional judgement.

With more research drawing urgent attention to the link between oral and systemic health, advocates are calling for clinicians to help bridge the divide to improve patient care.

This issue brief examines how adding a dental benefit to Medicare would reduce these disparities and address these challenges. The paper begins with a description of nursing facility residents enrolled in the Medicare program, followed by an overview of the disparities in access to oral health coverage, services, and outcomes residents face. Next, the paper examines how adding a dental benefit to Medicare would help improve access and outcomes and concludes with policy recommendations to address barriers beyond coverage that impede access to oral health care for residents.

The ADA urged CMS to recognize state-led strategies that expand the oral health workforce while maintaining high standards of care.