Alliance presents oral health education at The Senior Source
– by Nancy Cartwright, Alliance of the Dallas County Dental Society
The Alliance of Dallas County Dental Society (ADCDS) presented a dental health program at The Senior Source, a United Way agency. This year, they partnered with Community Dental Care for the program.
The Alliance provides dental health education to the organization’s “foster grandparents” who then volunteer to work with children in schools, hospitals, homeless shelters and rehabilitation facilities.
The annual senior program on “oral longevity” was presented to 100 senior citizens at the center. Angela Hernandez, RDH, discussed the importance of good oral hygiene in maintaining the overall health of the body. She instructed the audience on treatment of issues such as dry mouth and the effects of chronic diseases on oral health. Special instruction was given on teaching dental health to children.
Seniors and the foster children were given gift bags which included toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, hygiene items and denture products. Literature in Spanish and English was also provided. The Alliance served refreshments and awarded door prizes for the event.
The Alliance received a financial award from the Alliance of the Texas Dental Association. Products were donated by Community Dental Care, and the DCDS Executive Office provided the facility for Alliance volunteers to assemble the 300 gift bags.
The Alliance of DCDS provides numerous programs throughout the year that encourage good oral health in Dallas County, including puppet shows in schools and health fairs. This subgroup of DCDS works to enhance the practice of dentistry and promote dental health awareness through service projects.
Further reading
