A little girl brushing her teeth

Oral Health

About
Oral Health

Oral health is commonly understood to be limited to our mouth, but good oral health can also predict other important health indicators.  Sugary drinks impact teeth because of the high volume of sugar and often accompanying acids that together lead to tooth decay and cavities. Cavities are considered a chronic disease; cavities in baby teeth create greater risk for cavities in permanent teeth.  With that in mind, oral health issues are the leading cause of absence from school among elementary school aged children. Soda tax funds have supported Cavity Free SF Oral Health Task Forces who have been working to address disparities in oral health.

Chinatown Task Force on Children's Oral Health

The Chinatown Task Force on Children’s Oral Health (CTFCOH) is led by NICOS Chinese Health Coalition. This task force targets parents/guardians and other caregivers living in Chinatown, as well as Asian American and Chinese-speaking low-income families living throughout San Francisco. CTFCOH partnered with 19 organizations or groups through membership in the task force, ongoing collaboration and coordination, and reflective evaluation and learning. NICOS hosted six monthly CTFCOH meetings, facilitating the participation of 10 task force members per meeting on average.

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Funded Organizations

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