Clean water access for the homeless in Portland and its impact on Dental Hygiene

 

Dental Hygiene is important for everyone including those living on the streets of Portland. There are many things to be done to improve this within the community. Whether it is eating a healthy diet, avoiding harmful substances, or staying hydrated which is important for various other reasons. A major barrier that many face are their access to clean water. How accessible is clean water for one living on the street?

Clean water access for washing up and laundry along with clean water to brush one’s teeth. Luckily there are some ways the homeless can access clean water such as, through the Joint Office of Homeless Services. https://johs.us/street-outreach/ Their website provides ways in which one could access clean water. They provide services like mobile showers, mobile laundry services and hygiene products for those in need.

There are other ways the homeless can improve their dental health which would require them to have access to healthy foods some places in Portland like the Blanchet House https://blanchethouse.org/ and Feed the Mass https://www.feedthemass.org/volunteer These places offer healthy meals for those in need. If you are interested in volunteering at either location, just visit their website and sign up. You can make a difference by volunteering and helping those in need of access to healthy food.

The roadway to good dental hygiene starts with better access to healthy food and clean water. Along with information to help inform those living on the street the importance of dental hygiene. Get involved today to help better our communities!

 

Places to Volunteer to make a difference in your community today!

https://www.greaterportlandhealth.org/services/healthcare-for-the-homeless-program

https://blanchethouse.org/

https://www.feedthemass.org/volunteer

https://johs.us/street-outreach/

Fluoride in Portland: How this Major Resource can Impact Dental Health

Portland’s History with Fluoride

Portland is the largest city in the United States that does not have fluoride in its water. The topic was highly debated by the city in the early 2000s, and a loud majority of voters argued against the chemical due to its potential adverse health effects and the lack of personal freedom regarding the issue. A 2013 vote confirmed that Portlanders did not want fluoride included in their water, although city officials continue to push for its addition.

https://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-oregon-water-fluoridation-history-explained/

Benefits of Fluoride

Daily intake of fluoride has been proven to increase bone density, thus acting as a preventative measure toward cavities. It also kills off harmful bacteria in the mouth and helps re-mineralize cavities that may already exist. The main fear of fluoridation is that people will consume too much, but that is a rare occurrence that tends to affect children who swallow higher concentrated dental products like toothpaste and mouthwash. Since Portland is the largest city without fluoride in its water, it is clear that fluoride can be utilized in a safe and healthy way.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6195894/

The Impact on Houseless Individuals

This seems cut and dry. Especially as inflation continues to spike the costs of dental hygiene products, drinking city water with fluoride is the cheapest way for homeless people to care for their oral hygiene. Since we are one of the few cities that provides public drinking fountains, adding fluoride to their water would greatly benefit those who use it, without impacting homeowners who do not want their water fluoridized. As Portlanders, it is vital that we care for our neighbors, and adding fluoride to certain water sources may be the first step to offering a helping hand.