CHICAGO, Nov. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Oral Health America (OHA) is celebrating the close of another successful Fall for Smiles campaign, which educates Americans about the importance of maintaining a healthy mouth through daily brushing, flossing and rinsing, regular dental visits, eating healthy foods and avoiding tobacco products. This year the campaign, which ran in September and October, focused on the challenges facing older adults when it comes to accessing oral healthcare. While Fall for Smiles reached tens of thousands of Americans with its educational message, the campaign also cast a light on the troubling news that more than half of low income older adults have not seen a dentist in the past year, with most citing lack of income or lack of dental insurance as the reason.
This message was emphasized again during an event on Capitol Hill on September 30, Aging in America: "You Can't Be Healthy Without Good Oral Health." Dozens of oral health leaders gathered on the Hill to learn more about the needs of older Americans and their ability to access oral healthcare. During the event, Former US Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher was recognized as the 2015 recipient of the Marvin Goldstein Outstanding Public Service Award for his dedicated leadership in improving public health in the United States. OHA board and staff members also met with Congressional leaders to advocate for making oral health for older adults a priority.
"This year's Fall for Smiles campaign has been a great success, spreading the message of the importance of oral health for all Americans. We thank everyone who participated in the campaign, shared campaign materials and educated friends, family members and people in their communities about how oral health plays a key role in overall health," said OHA President and CEO Beth Truett.
Fall for Smiles was generously sponsored by: 3M ESPE, DentaQuest Foundation, Denticator, Hu-Friedy, Listerine, Midmark, National Dental Association, Oral Healthcare Can't Wait, Patterson Dental, Sunstar, Trident and Whip Mix.
