The American Dental Association is urging the federal government to retain the Head Start program’s oral health requirements.
The program’s requirements include supervised toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste and additional provisions designed to help children access dental care, according to a Sept. 10 news release from the ADA.
Under the 2026 proposed performance standards titled “Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs,” requirements related to access to care, oral hygiene instruction and daily toothbrushing would be removed.
According to the ADA, eliminating dental standards could make it more difficult for families to access dental services and lead to more preventable dental disease and higher treatment needs.
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