Head Start’s Oral Health Rules Face the Chopping Block
Proposed changes to the federal Head Start program could eliminate daily supervised toothbrushing and oral hygiene instruction for young children at increased risk for dental caries.
Since 1965, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been providing children of low socioeconomic status with learning and development support to help them succeed in school through its Head Start Program. The federal program serves more than 800,000 kids between the ages of 0 and 5.
In August 2026, HHS announced a significant revision of Head Start standards, the most in-depth overhaul since the program’s inception. The revised guidelines affect staff-to-child ratios, enrollment requirements, and teacher education standards in an effort to reduce the program’s cost by $2.2 billion, decrease regulations, and shift management of the program from the federal government to individual states.
One facet of the program that has hit the proposed chopping block is the oral health guidelines. Currently, Head Start programs require teachers to supervise children while they brush their teeth daily with fluoride toothpaste. Oral hygiene instruction is also provided.
The American Dental Association (ADA) is asking the HHS to keep the oral health guidelines in place in an effort to reduce the risk of dental caries and to support lifelong positive oral hygiene habits in a population that faces limited access to professional dental care. Citing research demonstrating the effectiveness of brushing with fluoride toothpaste at reducing the risk of childhood caries, the ADA asserts that eliminating oral health guidelines from Head Start moves the program away from “established science and public health practice.”
The public comment period is open until October 6. Those wishing to express their opinion on these changes may do so online: https://www.regulations.gov/docket/ACF-2026-0595 or via email: [Deregulation@acf.hhs.gov](mailto:Deregulation@acf.hhs.gov] (include the docket number, ACF-2026-0595, in the subject line). Click here to read more.
