NH Oral Health Coalition

12/26/2025

If you can’t get where you need to go, it affects your job, your social life, and your independence.

Earlier this year, ABLE NH hosted a Transportation Lunch & Learn focused on non-medical transportation through Medicaid waivers. We talked about how people with disabilities in New Hampshire can use this service for everyday life, not just appointments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHfuFu6zP-0

This service can help pay for things like:
• Bus or rail passes
• Taxi or Uber rides
• Mileage reimbursement
• Transportation vouchers
• Learning how to use public transportation

It can be used for shopping, work, community events, visiting friends, and more. Medical appointments are not included, but many other trips are.

If you are on a Medicaid HCBS waiver, this option can be added at any time. You do not have to wait for your annual review. The first step is talking with your service coordinator and setting a goal that includes transportation.

12/22/2025

The face and mouth are among the most nerve-rich areas of the human body.
Most sensations from the teeth, gums, jaws, and facial skin travel through the trigeminal nerve directly to the brain.
Because this connection is so direct and powerful, pain signals from dental problems reach the brain quickly and intensely.
This explains why tooth pain can feel sharp, deep, and sometimes overwhelming compared to pain in other parts of the body.

12/19/2025

Did you know?

This is what an untreated cavity really looks like — from the inside.

The dark area at the top is advanced dental caries, where bacteria have destroyed the enamel and dentin. Beneath it lies the pulp chamber, rich in nerves and blood vessels — shown here inflamed and exposed.

Once decay reaches this depth, pain is no longer just “toothache.” It is nerve infection, inflammation, and a gateway for bacteria to enter the bloodstream.

At this stage, a simple filling is no longer enough. Treatment usually requires root canal therapy or extraction — both more complex, costly, and invasive than early care.

12/17/2025

Did you know?

When a tooth is lost, the jawbone beneath it no longer receives stimulation from chewing. As a result, the body begins to break down the unused bone — a process called bone resorption.

Research shows that up to 25% of the jawbone can be lost within the first year if a missing tooth is not replaced. This bone loss mainly affects the alveolar bone, which supports the teeth, and it progresses most rapidly during the first 6–12 months.

Over time, bone loss can lead to shifting teeth, bite problems, facial changes, and difficulty placing dental implants later. What starts as a single missing tooth can gradually affect overall oral health.

Replacing missing teeth early — especially with options that restore chewing forces — helps preserve jawbone strength, facial structure, and long-term dental health.

11/12/2025

11/10/2025

Access to dental care changes lives. That’s why DentaQuest proudly supported the Iowa Mission of Mercy pop-up clinic in Coralville as a gold sponsor. Over two days, 1,221 volunteers provided more than $1 million in free dental care to 1,048 patients—many who hadn’t seen a dentist in years.

Learn more about how we’re working to expand access to care: https://www.dentaquest.com/en/news-and-resources/news-events/news-releases/dentaquest-sponsors-free-pop-up-dental-clinic-in-coralville

11/10/2025

High school students curious about careers in dental and oral health are invited to participate in Pathways to Smiles with the Southern NH Area Health Education Center, a free, three-part workshop designed to help them explore what the field has to offer.

Through a combination of virtual and in-person sessions, students will learn about diverse career paths in dentistry, gain hands-on experience at NHTI-Concord's Community College, and connect directly with dental professionals. Along the way, they’ll discover how oral health impacts their community and build knowledge and confidence for their future.

This is a fun and engaging way for students to explore real-world opportunities in oral health care at no cost to them! Register today at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckcnWiebBNZT9quIQlIAxIBjsQolec5sEWPd4o2WuT7ZrnPw/viewform.

11/10/2025

Today’s article is painful, and we cannot look away. It describes people with disabilities being harmed and ignored in places that were supposed to protect and support them. This is not about one home or one agency. It reflects a deeper issue in how our system sees and treats people.

Every person has the right to safety, respect, and a real life in their community, with dignity, belonging, and control over their own choices.

We will continue to work for a New Hampshire where safety is a guarantee, not a gamble.

Read the article here:
https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/11/10/a-series-of-tragedies-exposes-patterns-of-abuse-and-neglect-in-new-hampshires-disability-system/

11/10/2025

Thanks to our friends at Revo Casino and Social House for including us in their annual celebration of NH non-profits on Saturday. NHOHC was thrilled to be among their 350 charitable partners in 2025.

This year, the amazing folks at Revo have contributed OVER $15,000,000 to NH Non-profits across the 603.

Wow. Now that's impact!

Thank you Revo!

11/08/2025

A new 21-year study from the University of South Carolina has found that people with both gum disease and tooth decay face an 86% higher risk of stroke compared to those with healthy mouths — even after accounting for smoking, diabetes, and other cardiovascular factors.

Researchers followed nearly 6,000 adults over two decades and discovered that chronic oral inflammation and bacterial infection may trigger changes in blood vessels and increase the likelihood of clots — a key cause of ischemic strokes. Poor oral health doesn’t just harm teeth; it may silently strain the brain and heart.

The study also revealed that individuals who visited the dentist regularly were 81% less likely to have both gum disease and cavities, and 29% less likely to have gum disease alone. Routine scaling, professional cleanings, and early treatment of cavities could play a major role in reducing stroke risk.

🔬 Source:
🔍 doi:10.1212/WN9.0000000000000036.