Citizens' Watch for Oral Health Campaign

In its fourth year, the goal of the Citizens' Watch for Oral Health campaign continues to be:

To create a public climate in which policy proposals to improve oral health are more likely to be understood and supported by the public and policymakers.

As such, the campaign emphasizes:

  • Systems and policy changes
  • Policymaker engagement
  • Community responsibility
  • The development of public will to advance change

Key messages

The core campaign message is:

Oral disease is an infectious, progressive disease that hurts children and seniors and can lead to other health problems. Using the tools and technology available today, oral disease is almost 100% preventable. It's time to invest in the prevention of oral disease, not just expensive treatment.

Other key messages include the following:

  • Oral health is part of overall health
  • Poor oral health affects quality of life
  • Oral disease is linked to other health problems
  • Oral disease is an infectious, progressive disease that can be prevented
  • Prevention is cost-effective
  • Fluoride is the best way to prevent oral disease
  • When oral disease is left untreated, we all end up paying more
  • Ensuring good oral health is a blend of community responsibility and personal action

During Year 4 the campaign is responding to current political and budgetary realities by emphasizing three key themes:

  1. Prevention
  2. Protection
  3. Cost-effectiveness

We are focusing our messages on the need to:

  • Prevent oral disease
  • Protect the oral and overall health of both children and seniors
  • Support cost effective solutions, such as fluoride.

We're working to define the state's health as the health of its children and seniors, while emphasizing that protecting children's and seniors' health should be a government priority.