Share Your Story!
Do you have diabetes and Apple Health (Medicaid/DSHS) health coverage?
Or, are you pregnant or a new mom with Apple Health?
Have you had oral health problems or difficulty accessing dental care?
If so, contact us and share your story. Your experiences can help improve access for others. There are many ways you can get involved: share your story in writing, on video, or in person.
Contact Your Legislators
Urge them to improve access to dental care for people with diabetes and pregnant women.
It’s easy!
- Call the legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000
- Email your legislators
- Find us on Twitter @OralHealthWatch and help us deliver the message: Oral health is an essential part of overall health.
Messages
- Prevention and early treatment of dental disease is a smart investment. Poor oral health can lead to other serious, more costly health issues.
- For people with diabetes, dental disease can make it more difficult to control blood sugar, which can lead to serious complications, like blindness, amputation, and kidney disease.
- Improving access to dental care for people with diabetes can help them stay out of the hospital.
- Dental infections can lead to pregnancy complications.
- Once a baby is born, if mom’s decay hasn’t been treated, her baby is at risk. Bacteria that cause tooth decay are often passed from moms to babies.
- Improving access to dental care for pregnant women promotes healthier pregnancies and leads to better oral health for children.
- Support enhancements in the Apple Health budget to improve access to dental care for people with diabetes and pregnant women.
Oral Health Watch
4h
Hospital emergency departments offer temporary relief, but are costly and ill-equipped to deal with the underlying causes of dental pain and infection. Policies that promote greater access to preventive dental care and support measures like water fluoridation can help prevent needless suffering, ...improve health and save money. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
13h
ERs offer temporary relief, but are costly & ill-equipped to deal w/ underlying causes of dental pain & infection. Policies that promote greater access to preventive dental care & measures like water fluoridation can help prevent needless suffering, improve health & save money.
New @AHRQnews report shows that over 2-M emergency dept visits in the US involved dental conditions. 62% of these visits were for nontraumatic dental issues that could have been treated in a dental office. Access the report: https://bit.ly/3DUJagw
Oral Health Watch
3d
Oral health is integral to overall health, and can affect chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes and pregnancy. Providing access to preventive oral health care is both good health policy and the right thing to do. #teethmatter
People with gum disease have a 28% higher risk of having their 1st heart attack than those without this disease. Learn other ways that oral health is linked to overall health: https://bit.ly/3j1WLbv #HeartHealth
Oral Health Watch
3d
Thanks to Arcora Foundation, Delta Dental of Washington, Seattle Children's and caring dental care providers like Dr. K.C. who make the SmileMobile possible. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
4d
Sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas and fruit, sports and energy drinks are the leading source of added sugars in most diets. Choosing water - bonus if it has a good balance of fluoride - is a healthier and more hydrating option. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
4d
Sugary beverages like sodas and fruit, sports and energy drinks are the leading source of added sugars in our diets. Choosing water - bonus if it has a good balance of fluoride - is a healthier and more hydrating option. #teethmatter
Think of what you put in your mouth 👄, that’s what healthy eating is about. The American Heart Association ♥️ recommends 6 teaspoons of sugar per day for women and 9 teaspoons of sugar per day for men. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sugar/added-sugars