New National Campaign Promotes Oral Health

A new oral health literacy and educational campaign launched by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeks to raise awareness of the importance of regular dental care. With the support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the HRSA’s “A Healthy Mouth for Every Body” campaign provides resources and materials designed to help patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health. The program also includes tools that dental teams can use to explain common oral concerns, so patients understand the connection between oral health and overall well-being.

Statistics shared by the HRSA illustrate the need for outreach efforts, as the agency notes that 13% of American children have untreated caries and 46% of adults age 30 and older have some level of periodontal disease. To address these issues, the patient-centered web page (https://www.hrsa.gov/oral-health) offers discussions and advice on key topics, such as oral health for young children (as well as adults), and the causes and treatment of xerostomia.

Similarly, the Healthy Mouth campaign provides resources aimed at oral health professionals, including a tool kit that features a webinar explaining how providers can effectively share and integrate pro-oral-health messaging in their patient communications and marketing. From videos to fact sheets, and from posters to social media graphics, dental teams can take advantage of drop-in content that can be added to emails, newsletters, and other outreach vehicles. Learn more at https://www.hrsa.gov/oral-health/toolkit.