PA Secretary of Health highlights importance of oral health to overall physical and mental health

Spotlighting the need for access to oral health care Pennsylvanians, Acting Secretary of Health and Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson recently visited the dental clinic at Family First Health – George Street Center in York.

“You can’t be truly healthy without good oral health,” said Dr. Johnson. “Many people don’t realize that dental disease can cause a variety of health issues. Our hearts, lungs, and other organs can be harmed. Chronic conditions like diabetes can be worsened. Pregnancies are also negatively impacted. It can also take a toll on our mental health, as one factor leading to depression and low self-confidence.”

Dr. Johnson toured Family First Health’s George Street dental clinic, where patients of all ages can receive care from dental providers. Family First Health is a federally qualified health center (FQHC) offering accessible and affordable quality care in York, Adams and Lancaster counties. The center also has a mobile dental program that visits local elementary schools and childcare centers.

“It’s easy to protect your smile just by turning on the tap and drinking a glass of water,” Dr. Johnson said. “Community water fluoridation has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. The evidence from numerous academic, government and independent studies over the years has continued to demonstrate that community water fluoridation is safe, effective and economical resulting in significant benefits and cost-savings to communities.”

In addition to promoting the benefits of water fluoridation, the Department of Health aims to improve the oral health of Pennsylvanians and help make oral health care affordable and accessible by utilizing federal grants to improve the oral health workforce across the state. This funding, totaling $3.45 million, is intended to provide continuing education to oral health professionals, increase opportunities to serve vulnerable populations, provide tele-dentistry support and support oral health integration into community-based agencies.