Oral Health Kansas

Education Manager, Abby Richwine, shared the My Dental Care Passport© during a Poster Session at the Community Care Network of Kansas. This opportunity allowed Abby to share with attendees how the My Dental Care Passport© has evolved and has helped many individuals in their dental offices. My Dental Care Passport© is designed to improve the dental office visit for people with disabilities by letting individuals and their families/caregivers voice their specific needs. Sharing important information, for example, how a person likes to communicate, what they liked in past dentist visits, and what parts of the appointment might be hard for them, helps break down communication barriers and allows the dental team to make changes to the dental office and appointment plan before the person even arrives. This helps make the visit to the dentist better for everyone!
https://pathwaystooralhealth.org/my-dental-care-passport/

(Image Description: picture of a poster with different sections. Background, Objective, Developmental, Distribution, Outcomes, Acknowledgements, References. Blown up picture of the first page of My Dental Care Passport©).

Dental care is an important part of overall health for everyone, but for individuals with Down Syndrome, regular dental visits and good oral home care are especially important. An increased risk of oral health challenges, like gum disease and bite problems, mean monitoring and early intervention are critical. However, sometimes visiting the dentist can be tricky.

Last month, MaryAnne Lynch Small, Policy Manager, presented My Dental Care Passport© to the Gateway Down Syndrome Association based in St. Louis, MO. My Dental Care Passport is a communication tool designed to improve the dental office visit for people with disabilities by letting individuals and their families/caregivers voice their specific needs. Sharing important information, like, how a person communicates, sensory likes and dislikes, what went well in past visits, and what part of an appointment might be harder for them, allows the dental team to get to know the individual as a person and best prepare for a successful visit.

My Dental Care Passport© is unique to the individual. You can share what you want the dental team to know about you. For dental teams, it offers insights to help provide person-centered care and helps build confidence in caring for that individual. By working together and learning more about each other, we can create a smoother, more inclusive dental experience for everyone.

My Dental Care Passport© is freely available to use both in and out of Kansas. You can find My Dental Care Passport and handy Passport guides for users and dental teams on the website.
https://pathwaystooralhealth.org/my-dental-care-passport/

We are grateful to the Gateway Down Syndrome Association for inviting us to share strategies to make visiting the dentist are more successful experience for everyone.

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Today is National Women's Health and Fitness Day, the nation's largest annual health promotion event for women of all ages. Women face oral health considerations that shift across life stages in ways that are often overlooked in general fitness and wellness messaging.

Hormonal changes affect the mouth. Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause can increase gum sensitivity and the risk of gum disease. Pregnancy in particular raises the risk of pregnancy gingivitis and gum disease. During pregnancy this has been linked to preterm birth and low birth weight. It’s important to visit the dentist even while pregnant. Yes, it’s safe to see the dentist while pregnant and keep up with your oral health by brushing twice a day and flossing. Also, nutrition and fitness habits overlap with oral health. Drink plenty of water and limit sugary drinks and snacks which can contribute to whether or not you maintain a healthy mouth. Healthy Snacks Limit Acid Attacks one pager provides helpful tips. Find more great tips on our Consumer Resources page.

Healthy Snacks Limit Acid Attacks https://www.oralhealthkansas.org/Tips And Tricks/2026 NEW/Acid Attacks- Tips & Tricks-English.pdf

Consumer Resources page: https://www.oralhealthkansas.org/Consumers.html

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Free health screenings, including dental cleanings.

AdventHealth is hosting a Free Health Clinic on Saturday, October 10, offering free health screenings, preventive care and connections to additional community resources.

Services include dental cleanings and exams, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, flu shots, vision and hearing screenings, school and sports physicals, primary care, physical therapy, podiatry and more.

📅 Saturday, October 10th
⏰ 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
📍 Trailridge Middle School - 7500 Quivira Road, Shawnee, KS 66216

Walk-ins are welcome, or scan the QR code on the flyer to sign up in advance.

Help spread the word so more individuals and families in our community know about this opportunity to access free care and health resources.

Oral Health Kansas staff work hard to improve oral health access for Kansans every day. During her free time last weekend, Project Manager, Monica Turner, was found in Nebraska showing her support to improve the health of Nebraskans. Last Sunday, Monica, alongside family members, ran the Run With a Heart 5K hosted by Sigma Phi Epsilon with the support of Alpha Phi to benefit Special Olympics Nebraska and Women’s Heart Health. Special Olympics Kansas is part of the Pathways to Oral Health Project. We are so grateful Monica could support the Nebraska organization.

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Oral Health Kansas Dental Program Director Kathy Hunt has been appointed to the Board of Directors for AllWays Community Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center serving communities in northeast Kansas. AllWays provides medical, dental, behavioral health, and other services, with a focus on making health care accessible to everyone.

Kathy brings more than 45 years of experience in dental hygiene, oral health education, and public health to the board and will also represent the Topeka area of AllWays’ service region. Her board service provides an opportunity to bring an oral health perspective to broader conversations about access to care and the health needs of the communities AllWays serves. Congratulations Kathy!

World Pharmacists Day is celebrated on Friday, September 25. This year's theme, "Empowering Pharmacists for Healthier Futures," highlights how empowering pharmacists to work alongside other healthcare professionals improves patient outcomes and continuity of care.

Pharmacists do far more than hand over medication and explain side effects. Oftentimes, they're the first point of contact for someone experiencing a toothache or other oral health problem who isn't sure where else to turn. When dental care is out of reach, a pharmacist can offer product recommendations to help in the meantime. Oral Health Kansas has one page tips that can help with almost any oral health topic.

https://www.oralhealthkansas.org/Consumers.html

(Image Description: FIP World Pharmacy Week 2026 19-25 September, with pictures of medicine pills, heart, squiggly lines).

Join us for our next webinar on Tuesday, October 13 at 12:00pm CST. Learn about the new Kansas Medicaid dental rates and what they mean for providers and access to care. We’ll share results from the provider rate survey, including the priorities and concerns voiced by Kansas dental providers. The rate increase represents an important investment in oral health access during a challenging budget year and reflects the Kansas Legislature’s commitment to preserving the progress that has been made. This webinar highlights the collaborative efforts underway to listen to providers and use their voices to help strengthen the Medicaid dental system.

This is a great opportunity for one free CE.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/VQK19gFNQ4OlpzuSNDXYkA

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We’re excited to announce Tatiana Y. Lin, Director of Business Strategy and Innovation with Kansas Health Institute will speak at our Conference on Oral Health on Friday, November 13. Tatiana will provide information on a systems-level look at the evidence behind AI-assisted diagnostics, what these tools mean for access, quality of care, and how policy and regulation are evolving to keep pace.

How to register: Click on this link to register. If you do not have an account with the IRIS conference platform, you will need to set up an account.
https://wichita.irisregistration.com/Form/26OHKAttendee

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World Alzheimer's Month is observed every September and it raises awareness about Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Oral health is a connection that's often overlooked, but it plays a meaningful role at nearly every stage of the disease. Gum disease may be linked to increased dementia risk. Research has explored connections between chronic periodontal disease and cognitive decline, with some studies suggesting that oral bacteria and inflammation may play a role in Alzheimer's progression but the research is still being worked out!

Alzheimer's makes oral hygiene harder to maintain. As cognitive function declines, individuals may forget to brush or floss, struggle with the physical steps involved, or lose the ability to communicate dental pain or discomfort and can lead to undetected and untreated problems. Poor oral health can worsen other health outcomes for Alzheimer's patients. Untreated dental infections and gum disease can contribute to systemic inflammation and have been associated with faster cognitive decline in some studies, as well as increased risk of aspiration pneumonia in later stages.

For caregivers, helping with daily tasks including brushing the teeth of a loved one can be difficult but there are tips you can use. You can establish a routine and brush their teeth at the same time every day. While brushing, watch for signs that there may be some dental pain. You can also monitor for dental pain while the individual eats.

The award winning video series, Confidence in Every Smile is designed to make brushing and flossing easier for people living with physical or intellectual disabilities but this can also help some who has Alzheimer’s. Each video shares practical tips, creative tools, and encouragement so everyone can care for their teeth with confidence. From handling toothbrushes and toothpaste, to managing gagging or flossing with limited mobility, to brushing comfortably when you can’t stand at the sink, these videos help you discover what works best for you. Brushing the Teeth of Others provides various tips as well on how you can brush the teeth of your loved one.

Check out the Pathways to Oral Health and Oral Health Kansas website for more ideas.