The Campaign for Oral Health Equity engages the public through multi-faceted communications strategies, such as our annual Fall for Smiles® campaign, and encourages Americans to speak up and prioritize mouth health alongside other health considerations in improving the nation’s health.

What can you do to help?

Currently, the oral health provisions in health care reform that stand to provide dental coverage for 5.3 million underserved and uninsured children are not funded.  Also unfunded are school oral health education programs, state sealant programs, and workforce expansion projects.  The health care reform law is funded through Congress’ appropriations process.

In these times of highly politicized budget negotiations, it’s important to speak up! Write or email your Senators and Representatives, and let them know that preventing infections of the mouth keeps Americans healthy and saves long-term health costs. Click here to access a template letter created by PEW Children’s Dental Campaign. (Please tailor your letter to needs and issues within your state.)  Contact information for your elected officials can be found here.

What else can you do?

• Support water fluoridation efforts in your community.
• Support policies that address tobacco use prevention and cessation.
• Support good nutrition and healthy foods programs in schools.
• Participate in your local or state oral health coalition (for information about a coaltion in your area, email amanda@oralhealthamerica.org).
• Participate in OHA’s Fall for Smiles campaign.

Take a look at Oral Health America’s Policy Statement about oral health and healthcare reform, click here.