WASHINGTON, DC — The Hispanic Dental Association (HDA) and Oral Health America (OHA), together with Crest and Oral-B, convened a day of advocacy on Capitol Hill Sept. 12 to address the urgent need for oral health education and prevention among the U.S. Hispanic population and other vulnerable minority groups that lag behind the general population when it comes to basic oral health. The event was part of the third annual Fall for Smiles® campaign, which is led by OHA, reminding policymakers and the public about the importance of oral health, among other health priorities.
According to a survey titled “Hispanics Open Up About Oral Health Care,” which was led by the HDA Foundation and sponsored by Crest and Oral-B, two thirds (67%) of Hispanics rated their overall oral health as excellent or good; however, almost the same percentage (65%) experienced at least one oral health issue in the past year. The survey also found that Hispanics have misperceptions and knowledge gaps when it comes to basic oral health. For instance, almost one third of Hispanics (30%) are either unsure or believe that cavities will go away on their own if you brush regularly, which is false.
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