A critical intersection for oral health
From farm to teeth: reimagining school-based oral health and nutrition education programs
By: Emily Yu, Founder and CEO, AI PRIORI, INC., Chief Partnerships and Program Officer, Newman’s Own Foundation, and External Advisor, Delta Dental’s Driving Greater Diversity in the Oral Health Workforce Campaign
The intersection of oral health and nutrition education in school-based programs offers an effective opportunity to advance health equity among school-age children in the United States. To this end, many public health departments, health systems, school districts, and other entities have launched programming in recent years informed by these two focus areas. Often framed as “whole child” or “whole body” initiatives, (e.g., Colorado School-based Oral Health Program, Oral Health in Rural Communities – Models and Innovations) oral health and food security considerations have proven to be a powerful combination of elements that can influence a child’s overall health and well-being.
Building on the progress and learnings made using this approach raises the question: what would happen if oral health and food security were prioritized in school programming? How might the alignment of these two focus areas as drivers, rather than secondary considerations, alter how we, as oral health practitioners and health equity champions, develop, design, and disseminate programs designed to improve children’s oral health?
This invitation to ideate on new approaches is built on the recognition of how a child’s oral health status is directly influenced by their food choices.1 Over time, their ability to maintain a balanced, healthy diet is essential for their overall health and well-being.
When children experience tooth decay or cavities, the condition can lead to pain, discomfort, and difficulty in chewing. Research indicates that approximately 16-17% of children between ages 6 and 11 in the U.S., as well as a comparable percentage of teenagers, are affected by dental caries or have untreated cavities.1 Children experiencing caries are more likely to avoid certain nutritious foods that are harder to eat, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, opting instead for softer, potentially less nutritious alternatives.2 This shift in diet is just one way in which poor oral health can create a cycle that limits one’s nutrition intake and further compromises their oral health — and their compromised oral health continues to limit dietary options and so on.
members accustomed to episodic care and have only sought care when in critical or emergent need. For these reasons, some communities have decided this is unacceptable and have looked to their community members to fill the void.
The opportunity
School food and nutrition education programs in the U.S. aim to provide students with access to nutritious meals and teach them about healthy eating habits. Designed to promote healthy eating and physical activity in kids, their overall goal is to improve children's nutrition, combat food insecurity, and foster lifelong healthy eating habits. For example, the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, administered by the USDA, offers low-cost or free meals to millions of children daily, while also adhering to federal nutrition standards. Many schools also implement farm-to-school programs, connecting students with local agriculture and fresh produce through education, hands-on experiences, and/or ingredients in the school-provided meals. Some schools have even gone so far as to integrate school gardens, cooking classes, and nutrition-focused curricula to enhance students' understanding of food and its impact on their health.
Check out a few examples of nutrition education programs:
Thought starters
How might this oral health and nutrition education paradigm spark new ideas or insights into improving children’s oral health and advancing health equity? Here are a few questions to reflect on in relation to the school district(s) and educational institution(s) that you work with:
- How might students be able to understand and play an active role in influencing their school’s food preparation methods and the connection to their personal dental health?
- What would it take to create a comprehensive curriculum that links school garden activities, local food systems, and oral health together — teaching students about the journey their food has taken from soil to plate to smile?
- How can school administrators and oral health professionals collaborate to integrate interactive, technology-based oral health education into existing nutrition curricula — making the connection between diet and dental health more engaging for students?
- What innovative partnerships could you form between local oral health professionals, school nutrition staff, and local food producers to create "tooth-friendly" menu options that are both nutritious and appealing to children?
By integrating oral health education alongside evidence-based interventions that focus on sustainable food initiatives in schools, oral health professionals have a unique opportunity to make oral health education more engaging, integrate it with broader health and sustainability concepts, and extend its reach beyond traditional clinical settings.
Additional resources
For more information about the opportunities to link oral health and nutrition education for children together, check out these sites:
1American Dental Association website. Nutrition and Oral Health. Accessed December 15, 2024.
2Chamut, S., Alhassan, M., Hameedaldeen, A. et al. Every bite counts to achieve oral health: a scoping review on diet and oral health preventive practices. Int J Equity Health 23, 261 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-024-02279-0.
3Beaudette JR, Fritz PC, Sullivan PJ, Ward WE. Oral Health, Nutritional Choices, and Dental Fear and Anxiety. Dent J (Basel). 2017 Jan 21;5(1):8. https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/5/1/8.