Policy to Improve Dental Hygiene

 Policy Recommendations to Improve Dental Hygiene

Housing Policy

Most homeless shelters lack toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss, leaving residents without daily oral hygiene essentials. A policy recommendation to resolve this problem would be requiring homeless shelters to provide basic oral hygiene supplies as part of intake services. This would happen either by state funding for hygiene products or by partnering with corporate donors such as Colgate, Crest, and Oral-B to supply free oral care products

Expand Medicaid

Most homeless individuals rely on Medicaid, but dental coverage varies by state and is often limited to emergency extractions instead of preventive care. Medicare also lacks comprehensive dental benefits for older homeless adults. Expanding Medicaid dental benefits to cover preventative, restorative, and emergency dental care in all states will help homeless individuals better access the help they need. Another policy recommendation would be increasing federal funding for community health centers to provide free or low-cost dental services for uninsured homeless individuals which is important since most aren't able to afford insurance.

Conclusion

Policymakers must recognize dental care as an essential part of public health. Integrating oral health into housing policies and healthcare systems such as the Medicaid programs, would ensure that homeless individuals receive the care they need to prevent severe dental diseases, improve overall health, and restore their health and wellbeing.

Resources-

Donate to the National Health Care for Homelessness: https://www.nnoha.org/items-2/oral-health-for-patients-experiencing-homelessness-factsheet

To find free or low-cost health services: https://www.hrsa.gov/

Sign up to advocate for Basic Health Care Services for different Organizations: 

https://www.hcadvocacy.org/become-an-advocate/

Dental Hygiene Products are key to great Dental Health

    Dental hygiene is very important for our health and for the houseless community. One way we can help them achieve proper dental hygiene practices would be having access to dental hygiene supplies. There are a few ways to help those less fortunate to have access to these supplies mainly through programs and groups like the Blanchet House, and hygiene for all. The only issue is the Blanchet house doesn’t list dental products as a need on their website.

    Travel Size dental product packs are low cost and compact easy for a person to store in any scenario. There are products readily available on Amazon for less than ten dollars. This low cost and small size make it easy for you to donate to places like the Blanchet House or h4a. 

 

    It is important to partner with them to see what dental hygiene products they need or want. The Unhoused community live in conditions that may make dental hygiene a low priority. Especially as they live through the winter. Our goal is to help them gain access to more dental products that could help improve their overall health.  

 

    To increase the smiles across Portland it is very important for everyone to be aware of the issue and to donate what they can in order to improve the health of the unhoused. Here are some ways you can make a difference in the community by contacting these different sources.

·         Blanchet House at 310 NW Glisan St

Phone Number :503-241-4340

https://blanchethouse.org/get-involved

·         Hygiene4all At 824 SE MLK Jr Blvd

Phone Number: (971) 236-2524

https://www.h4apdx.org/

 

Mobile Dental Clinics Fill Critical Needs

 

Mobile Dental Clinics Fill Critical Needs

More Need, Fewer Resources

Every night, more than 7,480 adults and children in the Portland metro region sleep outside or in a homeless shelter. Thousands more are sleeping in their car, or doubled-up on a friend's couch. 

As announced on Feb 21, 2025, Multnomah County’s homeless services have an expected $104 million shortfall this year, a 25% budget reduction. Multnomah is requesting an additional $55 million from the State of Oregon and $30 million from Portland to address this funding gap. Even if the county is successful in these fundraising efforts, there is still nearly 20 million fewer dollars to support an expanding unhoused population. 

When funds are lacking, it's the other supports that get sidelined to make sure that shelter and critical basic needs are addressed for the most unhoused members of our community. Other needs, like oral health and dental care go unmet. 

Spotlight: Medical Teams International

When there's fewer resources and more people in need, everyone needs to find opportunities to help the most vulnerable members of our community. In Rose City, there is one organization, Medical Teams International (MTI), that has been doing just that, providing mobile dental care to the impoverished and unhoused, for over 30 years. 

MTI offers mobile dental clinics that provide the following services to those in need:

• Fillings and restoration of teeth
• Extractions of broken teeth
• Treatment of infections or abscesses in teeth or gums
• Basic exams and x-rays

In Need of Dental Services? 

Take a look at their clinic calendar to find when and where they are next offering their services. 

Please Help Today

Giving more of your time, talents, and financial support is essential with our community's budget shortfalls and ever-expanding needs. 

You can help MTI's mobile clinics keep putting smiles on the faces of those in need through: 

• In-kind and financial donations
• Partnerships
• Volunteering 

You can also contact your elected officials to advocate for spending to address this housing crisis and support the needs of our unhoused community members. 

Lean in to help in whatever ways you can. Together, let's make sure no one in our community is left behind suffering and shelterless. 

Sources

https://multco.us/news/news-release-chronic-homelessness-number-falls-across-tri-county-region-2023-point-time-count.

https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/12/28/oregons-homeless-population-is-8th-largest-in-the-nation-hud-count-shows/.

 Essential Nonprofit Dental Services

Why Are These Clinics Essential:

People who experience homelessness often face daily struggles to find food or a place to sleep, making it extremely difficult to navigate the healthcare system and access quality care. "Without adequate housing, individuals are at greater risk of poor health outcomes, including complications of chronic illness and substance use disorders and mental, and behavioral health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Underrepresented populations in Multnomah County experience the deleterious consequences of homelessness at a disproportionate rate." Providing these health clinics helps to save the lives of those experiencing homelessness and hopefully helps to uplift them and help them transition out of homelessness. 

https://www.pdxcityclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2015-01-06-HealthCareReformHomeless-3.pdf

Local Programs:

A local Portland program called Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic is a nonprofit student-run homeless clinic offering a multitude of healthcare services which somewhat recently expanded to include dental health. This clinic's volunteers consist of local students from Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon State University, and Portland State University. "Student volunteers identified dental services as a top need for Portland’s homeless community early on, while conducting a needs assessment prior to opening." Since then the Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic has been able to open multiple locations.
"The medical clinic is located in the lobby of The Clark Center Annex in inner Southeast Portland, just across from The Clark Center - a transitional housing shelter for clients of Bridges partner Transition Projects, which helps people transition out of homelessness." These clinics are essential to the homeless community they serve and provide real-world hands-on dentistry experience for the students running the clinic. Supporting local programs like these helps not only the houseless community who benefit from their services but additionally helps to train future healthcare workers and instill the importance of community outreach on behalf of the healthcare services.

https://ohsufoundation.org/stories/bridges-collaborative-care-clinic/
https://news.ohsu.edu/2018/10/11/free-student-run-homeless-clinic-expanding-to-offer-dental-care

Find Upcoming Clinics: 

https://www.bridgesclinic.org/patients
https://www.medicalteams.org/emergency-dental-clinics/

How can you donate?

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=AT7A9ZNZ92CDN&source=url&ssrt=1741304044607
https://www.medicalteams.org/donations/

How can you Volunteer?

https://www.bridgesclinic.org/volunteer

https://www.medicalteams.org/volunteer/

Oregon Health Plan: How To Access It And Is It Going Away?

 Background

The Oregon Health Plan is a medical assistance program that offers health care for low-income persons who meet the required qualifications. Among the things covered by this program are doctor visits, hospital care, mental health services, and dental care. They offer Oregon Health Plan Plus for low-income people who meet the eligibility requirements and Oregon Health Plan Bridge for those just above the standard plus limit. It is available to anyone of any age or immigration status. 

Dental Health Coverage

The Oregon Health Plan offers a variety of options for dental care. All members receive diagnostic, preventative, restorative, and specialist care. They offer check-ups, x-rays, cleanings, and fluoride varnish for diagnostic and preventative care. Restorative care includes fillings, extractions (having a tooth pulled), stainless steel crowns on back teeth, full dentures every 10 years, and partial dentures every 5 years. Finally, specialist care offers emergency or urgent care. However, emergency care only covers what is considered a true emergency. Examples of these would include losing a tooth, suffering from severe pain that won’t go away, or having a serious infection. If it is not a true emergency, then you may be asked to cover the bill. 

Veterans and members of the COFA (Compacts of Free Association) are entitled to additional benefits. In addition to the standard benefits, they can get free dental appointment rides. In some cases, certain drugs prescribed by the dentist, like antibiotics and pain relief medications, may also be covered.  

How to Access The Oregon Health Plan

Applications for the Oregon Health Plan can be submitted and accepted at any time of the year. However, it may be important to check eligibility before applying. The Oregon Health Authority offers a tool to help check for eligibility, which can be accessed here. When one is ready to apply, they can do so online at ONE.Oregon.gov, by phone at 1-800-699-9075, in person at a local Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) office, with an Oregon Health Plan-certified community partner, or by downloading and filling out an application from the OHA website here. 

Availability 

Medicaid has been under threat recently due to President Trump’s focus on cutting down government spending. Fortunately, the Oregon House has passed a bill (HB 2010) that would extend funding for the Oregon Health Plan through 2032. At the time of this posting, the bill is awaiting approval from the Senate. If approved, it will then be sent to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek for her to sign. It is important to note that despite the lack of protection, there are no plans to cut the Oregon Health Plan. 

Conclusion 

The Oregon Health Plan offers dental coverage for low-income Oregonians who meet the proper requirements. This extends to any person, regardless of immigration status. People can apply online, over the phone, or in person at any time of year. While there are talks of cutting Medicaid, there are no concrete plans to cancel the Oregon Health Plan. Likewise, there is a bill pending approval in the Senate to protect the Oregon Health Plan through 2032. For more information, see this article’s sources. 

“Health Coverage in Oregon.” OregonHealthCare.gov : Health coverage in Oregon : State of Oregon. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://healthcare.oregon.gov/pages/types-of-coverage.aspx. 

“OHP-Standard-to-Plus-Fact-Sheet.” Oregon Health Authority, October 24, 2013. 

“Oregon Health Insurance Plans: Find the Best Coverage for Your Needs.” healthinsurance.org, February 13, 2025. https://www.healthinsurance.org/health-insurance/oregon/ . 

Plante, Aimee. “House Passes Bill to Save Oregon Health Plan IF Congress Kills Medicaid Funding.” Koin 6, February 27, 2025. https://www.koin.com/news/politics/house-bill-oregon-health-plan-medicaid-funding-02272025.  

How You Can Help- Volunteer Opportunities in Your Community

 

Why It Matters

Dental care is often one of the most overlooked aspects of health for individuals experiencing homelessness. Without access to regular check-ups or necessary treatments, oral health issues can worsen, leading to significant physical and emotional challenges. However, there are numerous ways you can make a direct impact in your community by volunteering with outreach programs dedicated to providing dental care to the homeless. Whether you're a dentist, a dental student, or simply someone willing to lend a hand, your time and effort can help improve lives, offering people the chance to regain their confidence and access the care they desperately need. In this post, we’ll explore some of the local and national volunteer opportunities that make dental health services accessible to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.

 

Resources and Ways to Help

•    Dental Professionals- Gateway Grace Dental Clinic

“Our goal is to provide comprehensive dental care to adults making up to 300% of the federal poverty level.”

https://www.pacsonline.org/dental#:~:text=Volunteering%20Opportunities%20at%20the%20Dental%20Clinic&text=please%20contact%20Carol%20James%2C%20dental,as%20a%20volunteer%20dental%20professional!

•   Dental Students- Budd Clark Commons 

BCC is a student-led free clinic that provides dental services to vulnerable populations in the Portland-metro area. 

https://ohsufoundation.org/stories/bridges-collaborative-care-clinic/#:~:text=BCCC%20is%20a%20student%2Dled,Rao%2C%20D.D.S.%2C%20GPR%20'23

 

• Other Volunteer Opportunities- Oregon Dental Association

“Volunteers provide the ODA with essential resources needed to help us fulfill our mission and reach our goals. Volunteering for the ODA is about giving, contributing, and helping the profession to make a better community.”

 

https://www.oregondental.org/member-center/volunteer

Urgent Need: Oral Hygiene Kits for Portland’s Unhoused

Urgent Need: Oral Hygiene Kits for Portland’s Unhoused 

The Need is Urgent

The truth is, poor oral health affects far more than just your smile—it impacts overall health, dignity, and well-being. When our unhoused neighbors lack the ability to properly care for their teeth and gums, it can be a source of constant pain, embarrassment, and a barrier to feeling seen as a human being.

Providing oral hygiene kits—simple, inexpensive items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss—can make a world of difference. These small acts of care offer far more than just cleaner teeth. They offer dignity, self-respect, and a step toward better overall health.

How You Can Make a Difference

Portland, we need you. Here’s how you can help:

1. Donate Oral Hygiene Kits – The simplest way to help is by donating. Whether you drop off a kit at a local donation center or contribute funds for hygiene supplies, every bit helps. A toothbrush and toothpaste may seem small, but for someone without access to basic hygiene, it's a lifeline.

2. Volunteer Your Time – Volunteers are needed to help distribute these kits to the unhoused in our community. Your time can directly impact someone's day and show them they are not forgotten.

3. Spread the Word – Share this message with your friends, family, and neighbors. The more people involved, the bigger the difference we can make.

Take Action Now

Visit 211info.org to find programs donating oral hygiene supplies in Portland.  Reach out to them to donate, volunteer your time, or to learn more about how you can help. 

Join us in making Portland a city where no one is left behind.