A Self-Advocate’s Guide To Dental Health

Click the blue questions to read the answer. Last Revised: February 2024

Dental or oral health is about your teeth, gums and mouth.
Bad dental health can cause infections and larger problems throughout your whole body.
A healthy mouth = a healthy body!
Having healthy teeth makes you feel and look good.
There are a lot of germs that live in your mouth. If you don’t take care of your mouth, your teeth and gums can get sick and hurt. Germs can enter your blood and make other parts of your body sick.
Plaque is a sticky, slimy build up on your teeth. Plaque is made up mostly of the germs that cause tooth decay.
Individuals with disabilities often do not get good dental care.
● Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes.
● Use a water pick or an electric toothbrush.
● Try to floss once a day between your teeth.
● Rinse and gargle with mouthwash.
● Drink lots of water, especially
after eating.
● Visit the dentist every 6
months.
● Avoid smoking or chewing
tobacco and drinking sugary
drinks.
Keep track of how your mouth feels. Pay attention to these warning signs:
● Toothaches.
● Bad breath.
● Pain when you chew.
● Bleeding gums.
● Sensitivity to hot and cold foods.
● Jaw pain, grinding your teeth, or clenching your jaw.
● If your dentures don’t fit or hurt while you wear them.
● Loose teeth.
Call a dentist if you are having pain or need help with your teeth.
There are 2 main reasons to go to the dentist:
Prevention:
To get our teeth cleaned and make sure they are healthy.
Repair:
To fix something that hurts or is broken.
Here are the people you may see in your dental office:
Dental Hygienist: Will check and clean your teeth before the dentist comes to look at them. They may take pictures of your teeth to help the dentist see everything clearly.
Dentist: The dentist checks your teeth and fixes any problems. They use special tools to make sure your teeth stay strong and healthy.
Oral Surgeon: An oral surgeon has extra special skills to help fix more challenging problems with your teeth. Your dentist may send you to one.
● Arrive to your appointment at least 15 minutes early.
● Bring a friend or support person with you.
● Take a list of your medications. Some drugs may be hard on your teeth or give you “dry mouth.”
● Know your medical and dental history to share and bring any concerns about your mouth.
● If you need to get a tooth fixed, ask why and how they will fix it.
● Ask the dental office to check how much it will cost to clean and fix your teeth before you have anything done.
● Write down any questions that you have.
● Remember to breathe.
● Listen to music.
● Wear noise cancelling headphones.
● Ask to watch a movie.
● Close your eyes or wear sunglasses
● Ask for medicine to numb your teeth and gums.
● Get a tour of the office/doctor before you go to the appointment.
● Bring a friend or support person into the exam room with you.
● With the help of your dentist and doctor, you may get medicine to help you relax:
- Pills for anxiety or to relax muscles.
- “Laughing gas” (Nitrous oxide) through a mask.
- Sedation to put you to sleep.
Many of us have had scary or bad visits with dentists.
Most dentists want to help us if we have pain, tooth decay (cavity), or a broken tooth.
It is your right to get good dental care.
You have the right to ask questions about your oral health until you understand what you need to know to make good choices about your body.
If you are not happy with your dentist, you have the right to look for a new one.
It is often very hard to find a dentist. And often you have to wait a long time to get an appointment.
Your dental health is important. Here are some tips to find a dentist:
● Ask a friend or family member for the name of their dentist.
● Check with the State Department of Health for dental clinics at community health centers.
● Get a list of local dental providers from Medicaid and your insurance company.
Paying for dental work can cost a lot of money. A lot of people do not go to the dentist because they cannot pay.
You can pay for the dentist using:
● Private insurance
● Pay out of your own pocket
● Medicaid
● State and federal grants
● GoFundMe or online fundraising
Resources to help you pay for a dentist in Vermont:
- One-Time Funding from your agency
- Reach out to dental schools and community health centers
- CapStone for Teeth
- DDSD Dental Fund