Social determinants of health, or SDoH, have long been defined as “environmental factors that affect physical and mental well-being.” These may include economic security, healthy housing, availability of nutrient-dense food, opportunities for exercise and efforts to provide social security for all.
Disparities among any of these factors can create an increase of oral health diseases among the marginalized groups, leading to oral health inequities.
The federal initiative Healthy People 2030 focuses on five areas to help stabilize this inequality of health. When restructured in favorable ways, all these areas of focus can contribute to better oral health and lead to improved oral health trajectories.
They are:
Several of the Healthy People 2030 initiatives play an important role in oral health, including reducing untreated dental disease, increasing water fluoridation, expanding access to dental insurance, improving access to care and enhancing the public health infrastructure. Paying attention to the importance of these SDoH can lead to improved policy and research that boosts oral health equity for everyone.
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