Share your Oral Health Story

Oral health is more than just brushing and flossing.

Lack of access to dental care means things like untreated pain, delayed care, missed days of work and school, and more expensive treatments down the road.

106 million people living in the United States are living without dental benefits. And even with benefits, people report that treatment remains costly or out of reach.

Now’s the time to change that.

Join the movement of people advocating for expanded access to oral health care.

Tell us your story today.

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To learn more about Families USA and its efforts to bring oral health care to all,
visit familiesusa.org/initiatives/oral-health-all
Because I'm a disabled adult, I don’t have dental coverage and now most of my teeth are ruined and have to be pulled. I haven’t been able to afford dental care or dental insurance for the past 15 years. Just because you aren't a child doesn’t mean you don't need the services of a dentist.
Tracey, 52
Waldorf, MD
If I had comprehensive dental health care, my periodontal disease could have been treated and my teeth saved. Unfortunately, I don’t, and I have lost half my teeth. The rest will either fall out or I will have to pay for emergency extractions at ER rates.
Michael, 69
Holiday, FL
I have been struggling with dental issues for just about my entire adult life. Now I am 32 and I have major tooth decay. The decay has progressively gotten worse, especially over the past five years, and it has now gotten so serious that I can no longer eat or speak properly. Up until a few months ago I felt beautiful and young, and now my teeth are disintegrating. If dental insurance was available and offered greater coverage to both the underinsured and insured then people wouldn’t have to face this horrible predicament.
Amy, 32
Baltimore, MD
Older people have enough on their plates with appliances falling apart, houses deteriorating, and health costs soaring to worry about dental care; yet I need dentures relined and my 3 teeth left cleaned. I am on a fixed income and on Medicare. Even if I had the money for a separate dental plan, they don’t cover dentures. I don't know what to do. I am a widow on a fixed income.
Martha, 80
Elmendorf, TX
I had to leave my job in 2009 for medical reasons. Right now, I pay about $150 out of pocket, twice a year, for dental care. I put it on a credit card with a high interest rate and use what little money I save to pay off the balance. These costs are ruining me. I am worried that I won’t be able to see a dentist next year.
Melissa, 58
Central Square, NY
I went to the dentist today for the first time in a while. Even though I have insurance, it does not cover all the things that I need, and paying out of pocket makes it hard to afford rent and food. I don't understand why my plan covers root canals but it doesn't cover crowns or the $2000 medication I needed to cure gum disease. I feel like I'm stuck, and I don't know what to do.
Silvia, 32
Stockton, CA
I have been suffering with tooth pain for years. I have a broken tooth, decaying teeth, and my permanent dentures move while chewing. I am also diabetic, which forces me to see a dentist regularly to check for gum problems. I cannot afford to keep going to the ER.
Helen
Memphis, TN
I have Multiple Sclerosis and was forced to quit work and go on disability way too early. I am on Medicare now. I have been meticulous with brushing and flossing, and mouthwash, etc., but have not seen a dentist in about 14 years. MS has taken a toll on my body. My gums hurt, I have cavities, pain, and a broken molar. And as a retired nurse, I know that this is affecting my health in many ways. Please make it possible for us to get dental care.
Deane, 65
Gastonia, NC
I was diagnosed with cancer last year and it's been hell ever since. My teeth are rotting due to chemotherapy and radiation causing great agony and my coverage won't pay for the oral care that I need badly. Sometimes I feel like giving up.
Brian, 49
Midland, TX
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