A bill to promote oral health education has passed the U.S. House and is headed to the full Senate, the ADA said Dec. 13.
The Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act was introduced in July by U.S. Reps. Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif., and Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla. It would task the Health Resources and Services Administration with developing and testing strategies for oral health education through a five-year campaign to curb the rise in oral disease and related illnesses in underserved communities.
Oral health education, particularly among children and underserved communities, is key to avoiding most oral health ailments, the ADA stated in a letter of support of the legislation.
The bill passed the House Dec. 8 with a 369-58 vote.