From Families USA (http://www.familiesusa.org):
Poor oral health is linked to diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes, heart disease, childhood illnesses, even lost school and work hours. Millions of Americans suffer the physical and financial consequences of untreated dental problems, and our health care system pays the price.
Yet, oral health remains an isolated, and often too neglected, part of health care.
Between getting involved in conversations about oral health on Capitol Hill, elevating oral health during election season, learning more about what important oral health policies such as Medicare dental benefit could look like, and making sure real people’s oral health stories are heard, there is a lot to get involved in.
This summer, Families USA’s Oral Health for All campaign has put together a number of oral health resources to help health and oral health advocates speak up about this important issue.
To get involved, you can:
- Read the white paper we co-authored with a coalition of stakeholders on what a Medicare dental benefit should look like.
- Learn more about the Action for Dental Health Act in our blog explaining why this bill is a good baby step to addressing oral health issues. It should be considered in the Senate soon.
- Prepare to talk to candidates about oral health issues with our oral health question guide.
- Discover the consequences of insufficient dental coverage in Medicaid through our brief Treating Pain is not Enough.
- Read and share Cheryl B’s story that speaks out for millions of Americans with oral health issues.
- Share your own story about poor oral health or lack of oral health coverage impacting your life.
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