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Official website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means it's official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Rethink Your Drink!

    Sugar in sports drinks, sodas, and energy drinks sticks around. Over time, this sugar can lead to cavities, weight gain, and diabetes. Choose water!

    Learn more about sugary drinks and your oral health

    Oral health is essential to the well-being of all Pennsylvanians. The Pennsylvania Department of Health's Oral Health Program (Program) emphasizes that you cannot truly be healthy without good oral health.

    The program leads the efforts in developing and implementing the stakeholder-driven Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan 2020-2030, through collaboration with other governmental agencies, statewide partners, providers and local community groups. 

    The main goals of the program:

    • Prevent oral disease through population-level prevention activities:
    • Community water fluoridation
    • School-based and school-linked dental sealant programs
    • Routine oral cancer screenings
    • Proper oral hygiene behavior by parents and children
    • Assessment of oral health status of the Pennsylvania population.
    • Improving access to dental health services for the underserved.

    Diabetes and Oral Health

    People with diabetes are at increased risk for gum disease, dry mouth, oral infections, and delayed healing. Research has shown that the relationship between diabetes and oral health is bidirectional. Poor oral health can make it more difficult to manage blood glucose levels, while uncontrolled diabetes can increase the risk of oral health problems. Maintaining good oral health is an important part of diabetes prevention and management.

    Contact Information

    Oral Health Program
    PA Department of Health
    Health and Human Services Building
    Room 1008
    625 Forster Street
    Harrisburg, PA 17120-0701
    Phone: 717-787-5900
    Email:  RA-DHOHP@pa.gov