Marshall University Community and School Oral Health Team ...



Greetings ARC Diabetes Grantee:

The Marshall University Community and School Oral Health Team is pleased to offer the enclosed Communications Package to assist ARC grantees in implementing the oral health component of their respective awards.

The goal of incorporating the oral health component into coalition activities/strategies is to establish and/or strengthen diabetes coalitions in the implementation of evidence-based programs that address community-level efforts to reduce chronic diseases such as poor oral health as it relates to diabetes. The MU Community and School Oral Health Team is available to facilitate planning and training of coalitions in implementing various interventions. 

The attached communication packet provides examples of various communications that can be readily implemented/adapted into local/regional education and campaign efforts such as press releases, newsletters, etc.   

Feel free to contact the Community and School Oral Health Team if you have questions. A map of the state regional oral health coordinators is included for your reference. 

Thank you and as always we are looking forward to continuing to work with you and your communities!

Cheers to Lifetime of Healthy and Happy Smiles!

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Enclosures:

• Sample Press Release, courtesy of Delta Dental of New Jersey

• Diabetes and You: Healthy Teeth Matter-a publication from the National Diabetes Education Program

• Resources for Free Downloadable Educational Materials

• Regional Oral Health Educator Map

Sample Press Release, courtesy of Delta Dental of New Jersey

(Insert name of Coalition here) REMINDS (insert name of town here) , BETWEEN ORAL HEALTH AND DIABETES IS A TWO-WAY STREET

- Oral health affects overall health -

(Insert name of town here), WV (Insert date here)

According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million American adults and children have diabetes. Of those, 5.7 million do not know that they have it. Of even greater concern is that nearly three times that number - an estimated 57 million people - have a condition called prediabetes1, and a significant proportion of these people will develop Type 2 diabetes within 10 years.2 (insert name of coalition here), is reminding people during American Diabetes Month that regular visits to the dentist's office can help potential diabetics get an early warning that they should be on the alert.

(Insert quote from local dentist/dental hygienist here re: the link between Diabetes and Oral Health. This is a great way to assist in building relationships w/local dental providers). Quote can be similar to …."We've known for a long time that people with diabetes are more susceptible to gum disease," said (Insert dentist/dental hygienist name here), DDS/RDH. Additional statement can be included here ….. "," said _____DDS/RDH.

The connection between diabetes and oral health is just one example of the relationship between an individual's oral health and his or her overall wellness. It also underscores the important role that oral health care providers can have in early detection of serious systemic diseases. Good oral health leads to good overall health, and by contrast, poor oral health can lead to serious disease.

Dental professionals can use today's dental exams to screen for oral cancers and other health issues that can be difficult to spot on your own. More than 120 diseases3 can cause specific signs and symptoms in and around the mouth and jaw. Dental professionals performing checkups can spot symptoms that could indicate serious health problems elsewhere in the body that need attention.

Checkups allow your dentist and dental hygienist to keep up with changes to your health status. Upon learning of medical conditions you've developed or treatments you're receiving, your dentist and dental hygienist can recommend strategies to help you proactively counter the negative effects the conditions and treatments would otherwise have on your oral health.

Preventive checkups provide dentists and dental hygienists with opportunities to identify and intervene early in dental diseases. This can reduce any pain and the financial costs associated with more severe forms of dental diseases.

Cont’d

About (insert name of coalition here)

____Coalition is (talk about goal/mission of your local coalition and contributions to the local community/citizens). For more information, visit _____.com.

____________________________________________

1 American Diabetes Association

2 Journal of Periodontology, March 2007

3 Steven L. Bricker, Robert P. Langlais, and Craig S. Miller, Oral Diagnosis, Oral Medicine and Treatment Planning (Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1994)

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Resources for Free Brochures

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) offers a variety of fact sheets and information that can be downloaded via the following link

The following list includes resources, along with a brief description, that you may consider utilizing with coalition members:

• Diabetes: Dental Tips: This fact sheet describes warning signals of oral health problems as well as practical information for preventing the periodontal complications of diabetes.

• Prevent Diabetes Problems--Keep Your Mouth Healthy: This easy-to-read booklet teaches people how diabetes can damage teeth and gums and how this damage can be prevented. Focuses on proper dental care and frequent dental visits. Part of a series on preventing diabetes problems.

• Diabetes Health Concerns: Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on how diabetes can affect many parts of the body, including oral health.

• Take Charge of Your Diabetes: Information from the CDC on preventing dental complications from diabetes.

In addition, the American Dental Association has dedicated a web page that provides consumers with a brief overview of the relationship between Diabetes and Oral Health. The page can be accessed at

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