To fight poor health outcomes potentially rooted in deficient oral hygiene, Baxter International Foundation and Americares have teamed up to plan a year-long nationwide oral health education program for underserved patients with a $75,000 grant.
Under the auspices of the initiative, 30 clinics across the U.S. will be empowered to dispense oral health information to those of low socioeconomic status who may lack the education to practice preventive dental care — from everyday routine cleansing to dental office visits.
The program’s multi-tiered approach features a specialized “Train the Trainer” online series, aimed at broadening practitioner skills in preparation for its educational outreach component.
Taking into account patient limitations such as low literacy and addressing education gaps with booklets designed with both adults and children in mind, the initiative was created with help from the La Habra, California-based Institute for Healthcare Advancement.
The Mayo Clinic previously established a link between oral health and other conditions like heart disorders and even premature births.
"Patients often believe there is a divide between mouth and body, when evidence shows that oral health affects systemic health," Lindsay O’Brien, director of U.S. programs and partnerships at Americares, said. "We are helping health care providers teach proper dental hygiene and increase patients’ understanding of the impact it will have on their overall health."
Baxter International Foundation, which provided the grant funding, is based in Deerfield, Illinois; Americares is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.
"Our partnership with Americares and the launch of the oral health initiative is paving a new avenue that can engage vulnerable, underserved populations to address issues related to dental care and, in turn, significantly improve their overall health," Stacey Eisen, Baxter International Foundation president, said.
