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
9h
And #DYK that cavities are preventable? Practicing a good oral hygiene routine coupled with regular dental visits, drinking fluoridated water, dental sealants and fluoride varnishes can help kids grow up cavity-free. #teethmatter
#DYK: Cavities in baby teeth often lead to cavities in adult teeth? Ask your dentist these three questions to set your little one’s teeth up for success 🦷
https://www.themightymouth.org/3-questions-to-ask-a-dentist-or-pediatrician-about-your-babys-oral-health
Oral Health Watch
9h
Everyone deserves to enjoy the benefits of good oral health. Thank you #SmileMobile - and @Arcorafound, @DeltaDentalWA, @seattlechildren and caring providers who make the SmileMobile possible - for providing dental care access in rural and underserved communities. #teethmatter
Thumbs up for our #SmileMobile clinic in Spokane! 🙌 Thank you to the incredible Marshallese community health workers who helped patients feel comfortable and secure during their visits. #access #removingbarriers
📰 Read more in @SpokesmanReview ➡ https://bit.ly/3vpAwAy
Oral Health Watch
9h
🥤👏
A scary thought: you turn on the kitchen tap and nothing comes out! 😱 But have no fear, your amazing #wateroperators are here to ensure balanced drinking water is there when you need it. Raise a glass to those who keep our smiles and whole bodies healthy! #ValueWater
Oral Health Watch
1d
It's time for #Medicare to reflect the fact that oral health is integral to overall health and that including preventive dental care coverage is not only good health policy, it is the right thing to do. #teethmatter
A broken tooth shouldn’t mean an impossible choice between groceries and #DentalCare. Older adults and people with disabilities paid into #Medicare their whole working lives. It should cover their whole bodies. #MouthsinMedicare
Oral Health Watch
1d
Congratulations, @PurpleHayesRN and @DocJeffD!
So proud of @PurpleHayesRN and @DocJeffD, who were awarded the MLK Medal for Distinguished Service by the @KCCouncil for their incredible leadership throughout the #COVID19 pandemic.
Oral Health Watch
1d
Calgary residents overwhelmingly voted to restore water fluoridation. This is a win for all Calgary residents - regardless of age and socio-economic income level. This is a win for health equity. This is a win for public health. #teethmatter ...https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgarians-votes-yes-to-fluoride-in-city-water-supply-1.5628622