About Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts™

Dentist with patient during exam

Your smile and your heart may be more connected than you might think. Research suggests that chronic gum inflammation and certain oral bacteria may play a role in health issues including high blood pressure and heart disease.

The American Heart Association’s Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts™ initiative, in collaboration with Delta Dental, is dedicated to bridging the gap between oral and heart health care. Together, we are working to improve health and well-being nationwide by helping patients, dental care teams and primary care teams to better understand and address this connection.

Our Mission

We aim to advance equitable, integrated care by:

  • Giving dental and primary health care teams the tools and resources they need for prevention, early detection and better patient care coordination.
  • Helping patients and the public understand the connection between oral health and heart health and the steps they can take to protect both.

Here’s How We’re Meeting Our Mission

Quality Improvement

Two health care professionals in discussion

We are focusing on improving the integration of care between oral health and heart health by:

  • Developing tools and resources for blood pressure screenings and referrals for dental care professionals.
  • Creating a standardized process for blood pressure screenings and referrals in dental settings.
  • Developing and promoting a recognition program for oral health care teams who participate in quality blood pressure screening processes.

Professional Education

Group of health professionals sitting and taking notes in class

We are helping to promote collaboration across oral health care and primary health care teams for patients’ total well-being by:

  • Creating professional education activities to provide oral health care teams with information and resources on how best to work together.
  • Providing oral health care teams with information on how to measure blood pressure properly.
  • Encouraging dental professionals to refer patients to primary care professionals with any potential concerns.

Patient Education

Woman receiving treatment at dentist

We are highlighting how health care teams that work together can provide better total care for patients by:

  • Designing educational materials to help patients better understand the connection between oral health and heart health.
  • Providing educational resources in dental care settings for easy access for patients.
  • Encouraging patients to take charge of their total well-being.
Whether you are focused on improving your oral health or heart health, helping a loved one improve theirs, or you are a health care professional committed to offering the best care, Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts™ is here to support you. Together, we can create healthier communities, one smile and one heartbeat at a time.

Learn more about the connection between oral health and heart health and how you can take care of both. 

Delta Dental is proud to collaborate with the American Heart Association on the Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts initiative.
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