Cárdenas Bill to Create Oral Health Literacy Campaign Passes House
The Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act would specifically reach underserved communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2021, bipartisan legislation led by Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12). The bill aims to curb the rise of oral disease and related illnesses by directing the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to create a five-year oral health literacy campaign specifically reaching underserved communities.
A video of Congressman Cárdenas speaking on the House floor can be found here.
“Oral health is whole-body health, but, unfortunately, it’s often neglected by parents who, through no fault of their own, lack the resources to provide adequate dental care for their kids,” said Congressman Cárdenas. “Our legislation will help low-income families and communities of color learn about the benefits of regular dental care and empower them to make better decisions for their overall oral health. When parents have accessible information on the importance of healthy habits and prevention tips, they can help their kids maintain long-term oral hygiene at home. I look forward to the Senate voting to pass this bill and give every family the opportunity to live healthy lives.”
“Oral health is a vital component of overall wellness that is too often overlooked. As with many aspects of healthcare, prevention is key to long-term health. Lack of good oral hygiene has been proven to exacerbate chronic health conditions and contributes to costly, yet preventable, emergency care,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “I am proud to be a part of this initiative to raise awareness about the proactive steps that can be taken to improve oral healthcare as I believe it will improve patient outcomes. I urge my Senate colleagues to expedite its final passage.”
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), fewer than 49 percent of people used the oral health care system in 2020. In addition, illnesses related to oral health result in 6.1 million days of bed disability, 12.7 million days of restricted activity and 20.5 million lost workdays each year. Tooth decay is the most common chronic illness among school-age youth, affecting roughly 1 in 4 children. In 2012, almost 1 in 5 Americans 65 and older had untreated cavities, and over 40% had gum disease. However, most oral health ailments can be avoided by increasing oral health literacy among all populations, with an emphasis on children to ensure they develop and maintain healthy habits into adulthood. Under the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act, HRSA will be directed to develop strategies that will advise us on the outcomes and effectiveness of targeted oral health literacy campaigns and will help inform future efforts to improve oral health literacy for all Americans.
The legislation is supported by the Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Dental Group Practice, American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, American Academy of Periodontology, American Association of Endodontists, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Association of Orthodontists, American Association of Women Dentists, American College of Prosthodontists, American Dental Association, American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists and American Student Dental Association.
###