Last week, KOHC attended the Oral Health Progress and Equity Network (OPEN) mid-year meeting. OPEN is a national network of over 2,200 members taking on America’s oral health challenges so that everyone has an equitable chance to thrive. Over the last decade, OPEN has emerged from a nationwide conversation among policymakers, providers, public health activists, and grassroots organizers who understand that today’s system of health care isn’t working for everyone’s overall health and well-being. [...]

There is a growing body of research that indicates oral health should be taken seriously as a determinant of overall health. The mouth is a window to the body, one of your best defenses against bacterial infections, with its hygiene linked to diseases such as heart disease and pneumonia. Prioritizing oral health is especially vital in populations with other exacerbating illnesses.    Veterans are an at-risk population, with high rates of diabetes and heart disease, [...]

The carefree, “lazy days of summer” are in full bloom with outdoor activities and enjoyable time with family and friends. Still, there may be a fleeting thought creeping into our summer solace of how quickly the days fly by. Some may choose to utilize a few of the extra hours of daylight to get a jump-start on the “to do” list for entering school.   If you have a child entering kindergarten for the 2022-23 school [...]

We know there is a strong connection between good oral health and overall health, but one aspect of wellbeing that is less often associated with oral health is mental health. There is growing research that demonstrates the connection between a healthy mouth and a health mind, and vice versa. Oral health is closely tied to mental health in a number of ways, including the impact that mental health disorders can have on oral health. Those [...]

Kentucky Oral Health Coalition members and oral health stakeholders from across the state convened virtually for the Madisonville Regional Oral Health Summit on Friday, June 10th. KOHC kicked off the meeting by sharing information about the Coalition, our 2023 policy agenda, recent projects, and our 2022 - 2023 membership drive. Alicia Whatley, Policy and Advocacy Director with Kentucky Youth Advocates, shared several recent projects from the Coalition including: Updates, protocols, and resources related to the COVID-19 [...]

As we look forward to all the fun summer activities in June, KOHC is celebrating Oral Health Month and highlighting the importance of treating the whole person. Caring for our oral health means more than simply brushing and flossing your teeth – an important part! – it also means caring for your entire mouth, including your gums, by getting regular check-ups and screenings, and making healthy food and drink choices. In addition, oral health means [...]

As voted on by KOHC members at our December Annual Meeting, KOHC now offers 6 membership levels, including a new small business membership. Memberships are good for one year and are renewed in July. Also, KOHC is excited to offer new or renewing organizational members the ability to specify named members with their dues.                Review the NEW membership levels, benefits, and descriptions below. Additionally, KOHC provides a revised, user-friendly membership form to accommodate the [...]

Cathy Mills, School Based Health Coordinator at Shawnee Health Center and Leah Smothers, Floss and Gloss Program Manager at Purchase District Health Department – Guest Contributors   Poor oral health is something that most people never consider as they think of their overall health, when in fact it can be detrimental to all aspects of their lives. This is especially true for children. Lack of oral health care can affect the life of a child in [...]

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, a time to acknowledge the 463,000 children and youth nationally in foster care and the family members, foster parents, volunteers, mentors, child welfare professionals, and policymakers who help them find permanent homes and connections. It is also a time to join forces and renew our commitment to ensuring a bright future for the over 8,800 Kentucky children in Out of Home Care (OOHC). Kentucky’s youth in foster care are a [...]

As we begin a new month and look forward to summer, KOHC is taking time to celebrate National Dental Care Month in May. This month-long celebration is a chance to build awareness about the importance of preventive dental care for individuals of all ages. The past two years have brought many changes in routine that affect dental care practices and oral health professionals are starting to see the impacts of these changes – including increased [...]