Everyone deserves to enjoy the benefits of good oral health.
Achieving health equity includes ensuring everyone has access oral health care. Unfortunately, oral health disparities persist. Communities of color, rural areas, lower-income households, and people who speak a language other than English at home disproportionately experience the effects of poor oral health and are more likely to face barriers to accessing care.
To achieve health equity, we need to ensure adults have access to dental care when needs emerge and public health measures that help prevent oral disease before it happens. Poor oral health can have impacts beyond an unappealing smile or bad breath. Tooth loss and visible cavities can impact employment opportunities, nutrition, self-confidence, and how others perceive you. Untreated cavities and oral disease also can affect overall health, influencing chronic conditions like heart disease, pregnancy, stroke, diabetes, and general well-being.
Smart investments that expand access to preventive measures like water fluoridation and timely oral health care can profoundly impact a person’s life and advance health equity in our communities. Everyone deserves to enjoy the benefits of good oral health.
If you or a family member needs help finding a Washington state dentist, click here.
Click here to urge lawmakers to continue their support for comprehensive Apple Health adult dental benefits.
Oral Health Watch
3 days ago
Summer break may mean a less structured schedule, but it's still important for kids to maintain good oral health care habits. Check out these tips below to ensure children (and adults) protect their teeth throughout the summer break. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
3 days ago
Summer break may mean a less structured schedule, but it's still important for kids to maintain good oral health care habits. Check out these tips below to ensure children (and adults) protect their teeth throughout the summer break. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
4 days ago
Community water fluoridation plays a vital role in advancing oral health by providing a cost-effective and equitable means of preventing cavities and protecting individuals of all ages, income levels, and insurance coverage status from the financial and physical burden of oral disease. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
4 days ago
Community water fluoridation plays a vital role in advancing oral health by providing a cost-effective and equitable means of preventing cavities and protecting individuals of all ages, income levels, and insurance coverage status from the financial and physical burden of oral disease. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
5 days ago
Most adults report experiencing at least one cavity. But it doesn't have to be that way for future generations. Supporting efforts that expand access to dental care, preventive measures like water fluoridation, and programs that treat small oral health problems before they become more serious ...- and costly - issues is good health policy and the right thing to do. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
5 days ago
Most adults report experiencing at least one cavity. But it doesn't have to be that way for future generations. Supporting efforts that expand access to dental care, preventive measures like water fluoridation, and programs that treat small oral health problems before they become more serious ...- and costly - issues is good health policy and the right thing to do. #teethmatter