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Community Health Worker Oral Health Toolkit

The Oral Health Community Health Worker (CHW) Toolkit is a valuable resource designed to support the work of CHWs in various contexts. The toolkits provide essential information, guidelines, and resources to enhance the effectiveness of CHWs in promoting community oral health and well-being. We salute and stand in solidarity with our Promotores/as by providing bilingual education and health promotion tools to address the oral health needs of the growing Hispanic and Latino community in our state. These resources guide families through oral health across the lifespan.

Community Health Workers (CHWs)

Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a vital role in South Carolina by connecting community members to culturally appropriate health education and information, providing social support, and advocating for individual and community health needs.

CHW Training

The Section of Oral Health and the SC Oral Heath Action Network developed a curriculum via collaboration with the USC Center for Community Health Alignment and the Community Health Worker Institute. Based on Smiles for Life curriculum, this training includes child oral health, adult oral health, geriatric oral health, and oral health during pregnancy.  The training engages and allows CHWs to learn how to successfully address the oral health needs of the state and the needs of their participants. This training supports CDC and BCBS Foundation grant funded initiatives and aligns with the State Oral Health Plan.

Dental Care Resource Guide

Delta Dental of South Carolina publishes this dental care resource to provide information about low-cost and free options to those who cannot afford dental care. The low-cost and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) options listed provide dental services at a discounted rate or sliding fee scale for those with limited financial means. Free clinics and programs provide services at no cost and are made possible by volunteer dental professionals. It is important to always call the providers listed to ensure eligibility and  availability of services. Many require an appointment.

Low Cost Dental Care Map

Transportation Beneficiary Information

South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid provides transportation beneficiary information to assist South Carolinians with transportation to medical appointments. The transportation resource is available on its website at: 

Oral Health Books

It’s up to parents to teach & help their kids adopt habits and daily routines as part of a healthy lifestyle. One such habit is teaching their kids the importance of taking care of their teeth. Brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist every six months. 

For many parents, this is an ongoing challenge and a frequently asked question. Often, our answer includes helpful tips and insight and where applicable, book recommendations for a specific topic to help reinforce and help encourage your child to attain optimal dental health–no cavities.

  • Open Wide: Tooth School Inside by Laurie Keller
  •  Tooth by Tooth by Sara Levine
  •  DANIEL TIGERS NEIGHBORHOOD: Daniel goes to the Dentist
  • Josie’s Lost Tooth by Jennifer K. Mann
  • The Tooth Mouse by Susan Hood
  • Vera Goes to the Dentist by Vera Rosenberry
  • Tooth Traditions Around the World by Ann Malaspina
  • Chirpy Charlie’s Teeth by Marta Zafrilla

Additional Children Dentistry Resources

We have compiled a list of our top 25 children’s dental books. We included books for teething infants, to teenagers considering dental braces. As a bonus, we also included 10 benefits of reading with your kids.

    CHW Toolkit Downloadable Resources

    Older Adults

    • Dry Mouth: Questions and Answers (.pdf)
    • Burning Mouth Syndrome (PDF)
    • Older Adults and Oral Health (PDF)
    • Flossing: Information for Caregivers (PDF)
    • Brushing: Information for Caregivers (PDF)
    • Dry Mouth & Older Adults: Information for Caregivers (PDF)

    Kit de Herramientas de Salud Bucal para Promotores/as

    Promotores/as, also known as community health workers (CHWs), play a crucial role in South Carolina’s Hispanic communities. Promotores/as share language and ethnicity with the communities they serve, making them effective liaisons between public health services and Hispanic individuals.They understand cultural nuances, traditions, and beliefs, which helps build trust and rapport within the community. Promotores/as deliver culturally-tailored health education and disseminate information about health resources to Hispanic families. Promotores/as address health disparities by connecting community members to appropriate resources and help reduce barriers related to language, culture, and access to care, ensuring equitable health outcomes. By providing information on preventive measures, healthy behaviors, and available services, they empower community members to make informed decisions about their health.

    Sitios Web útiles

    Recursos Descargables

    • American Academy of Pediatrics: Herramienta de evaluación de riesgos para la salud bucal (pdf)
    • Formulario de evaluación del riesgo de la salud bucal de la American Academy of Pediatrics (pdf)
    • Objetivos de autocontrol para la salud oral para padres/cuidadores (pdf)
    • Una boca sana para su bebésalud oral (pdf)
    • El proceso del deterioro de los dientes: Cómo revertirlo y evitar que se forme una caries dental
    • Selle los dientes contra la caries dental (pdf)
    • iLos dientes de leche son importantes! (17×22 Poster)
    • Una boca sana para su bebé (pdf)

    Adultos Mayores

    • Uso de la seda dental: Información para cuidadores (pdf)
    • El cepillado: Información para cuidadores (pdf)
    • Cómo encontrar cuidados dentales a bajo costo: Información para cuidadores (pdf)
    • La boca seca y las personas mayores: Información para cuidadores (pdf)
    • Uso de la seda dental: Información para cuidadores (pdf)
    • El cepillado: Información para cuidadores (pdf)
    • Las personas mayores y la salud oral (pdf)
    • Cómo encontrar cuidados dentales a bajo costo (pdf)
    • La boca seca: Preguntas y respuestas (pdf)
    • La diabetes: Consejos sobre la salud oral (pdf)
    • Las personas mayores y la salud oral (pdf)

    Recursos Adicionales