Nearly 9
out of 10 adults have difficulty using routine health information according to
the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy. Increasing health literacy,
defined as “the ability for consumers to read, understand and act upon health
information,” is an important way to improve the health of Americans. However,
this is a lot easier said than done. The healthcare industry is plagued with
complex terms and explanations, leaving patients confused and unclear about how
to stay healthy. This is especially true
when it comes to oral health. Fortunately, October is Health Literacy Month.
Oral
health literacy is an important factor in achieving true health literacy. Oral
health plays a significant role in overall health and dental disease can affect
your quality of life so understanding how to properly care for your teeth and
gums is imperative to staying healthy.
The theme of
this year’s Health Literacy Month is “Health Literacy Heroes” so we put
together a list of tips you can follow to become an oral health literacy hero:
1. Improve
communication with your dentist
·
Before
you leave for your dentist appointment, make a list of your current
medications, write down your questions and bring paper to take notes
·
Ask
questions if something is not clear
·
Request
written materials in plain language
·
Know
your risk factors and if you don’t, have a conversation about it (click here
for tips about how to talk to your dentist about risk)
2. Utilize
materials that are easy to read, understand and use
·
Health Information Translations
provides free access to more than 3,000 health education resources in up to 18
languages
·
Massachusetts Health Quality
Partners posts health care quality data in ways the public can understand
3. Visit
our Oral
health Library, which provides important information written in plain language
about adult oral health, pediatric oral health, the relationship between oral
health and diabetes, and other general oral health topics. The library is also
available in Spanish.
Learn more
about Health Literacy Month here.