Our oral health is core to our ability to be healthy and well, and all Australians deserve to experience good oral health and the many benefits it brings.
Read the full report here: www.chf.org.au/news-and-eve...
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#FederalBudget #Prevention #HealthEquity #PublicHealth #Dental #AusPol
Too many Australians are stuck between an overstretched public system and private care they cannot afford.
The Budget can help change that by backing prevention, equity and smarter service design.
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A new report from Consumers Health Forum of Australia shows people want dental care to be more affordable, more timely, and treated as part of everyday health care, not something people only access when things get really bad.
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A cute kid with blonde hair grins at the camera. They have a few missing front teeth, and have a blue jumper tied around their shoulders.
Ahead of the Federal Budget, Australians are sending a pretty clear message: our oral health system is not working well enough.
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Treatment shouldn’t go ahead until you understand everything and feel comfortable agreeing."
Check out the full article by Chanae Nomotu Ihimaera in @aunz.theconversation.com
theconversation.com/wondering-if...
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#Dental #OralHealth #PreventiveHealth #PublicHealth #Equity
🦷 is there anything else I should know before deciding?
Your #oral #health practitioner should talk through what the treatment involves, why they’re recommending it, the alternatives (including choosing to do nothing), likely outcomes, costs and give you space to ask questions.
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🦷 what happens if I wait or choose not to treat this right now?
🦷 are there lower-cost options that would still work well?
🦷 are there habits or risk factors that could shorten this option’s lifespan?
🦷 can you give me a written treatment plan with itemised fees?
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A young woman with auburn hair smiles at the camera, she has freckles and bright red lip stick on.
If your oral health practitioner recommends treatment, especially if it’s expensive or invasive, consider asking the following questions to get a better sense of your options:
🦷 can you explain what the problem is in plain language?
🦷 what are my options, including the least invasive?
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Now more than ever we need a health system that makes prevention, early support and affordable care easier to access.
#PublicHealth #Prevention #OralHealth #Dental #HealthPromotion #HealthCare #Equity
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03...
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It often gets worse, leading to more pain, more complex treatment, and more pressure on families, hospitals and the broader health system.
Oral health is not separate from our overall health and wellbeing, it’s a core part of it.
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According to the report, 1 in 2 Australians missed out on health care they needed last year. And among people who didn’t see a dentist when they needed to, 67% said cost was the reason.
When people put off dental care because they can’t afford it, the problem doesn’t disappear.
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A child's painting with two orange hand prints and a red heart in the middle.
Too many Australians are being priced out of the health care they need.
The latest report from Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) is a stark reminder that cost is still a major barrier to health care in Australia, and dental care is one of the clearest examples.
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Vaping shown to likely cause lung and oral cancer in strongest review yet, Australian researchers say
Subscribe at: www.fred.org.au
#OralHealth #Prevention #HealthEquity #PublicHealth #Dental #Advocacy #HealthPromotion
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📺 The "Give us an ad break" campaign launch, and how to get involved.
📲 A new resource launched by HEAL-Oral Health and Lifespan Oral Health Research Group.
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We also highlight:
🎤 A panel discussion at #Progress2026 about reimagining Australia's health system.
🧐 A new blog about how if we want a healthier country, we need to start seeing oral health differently.
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Two women sit on a couch, looking at a tablet, laughing. They are wearing jumpers and look cosy. On the right is a green box with the text "FRED eNewsletter March 2026" overlaid.
🦷 Our March eNewsletter is hot off the press!
This month, we’re celebrating World Oral Health Day, and the theme "A happy mouth is a happy life" by sharing a new post we created for Health and Wellbeing Queensland's blog.
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A group of women sit on a stage on a couch. There's a slide projected onto the wall behind them that says "Re-imagining health: building a fairer system of Australia"
A close up of the group of six women on the couch, deep in thought and conversation. There's a small coffee table in front of them with a glass jug of water and glasses.
Shout out to the incredible panel for their leadership and advocacy in this space!
@catgiorgi.bsky.social Arnagretta Hunter Jessica Birch Selina Namchee Lo Sheree Lowe Alexandra Jones
#PreventiveHealth #PublicHealth #HealthEquity #OralHealth #Prevention
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We need to invest earlier, integrate better, & make preventive health support accessible to everyone.
Because a fairer health system isn’t one that treats disease better, it’s one that makes disease less likely in the first place.
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These models don’t just deliver care, they build capacity and our overall wellbeing.
COVID showed us that we can act early, move fast, and work collectively.
Now we need to apply that same urgency to prevention.
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We don’t have to start from scratch, there are already models showing us what better looks like:
🧡community-controlled, holistic, interconnected care
🧡prevention-first approaches that support behaviour change
🧡digital tools that reach people earlier, especially in regional & remote communities
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Where people are at the centre, not profits.
These were some of the ideas shared at #Progress2026 in Naarm, during a powerful panel on reimagining a fairer health system.
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Imagine a health system where everyone receives quality, culturally appropriate care, when and where they need it.
A system free from racism and discrimination.
Where people have the time and space to care for those they love.
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Caring for your mouth is really simple way to support your overall health and wellbeing.
hw.qld.gov.au/blog/a-happy...
#WorldOralHealthDay #HappyMouthHappyLife #OralHealth #HealthAndWellbeing #Prevention
Things like:
〰️ Making water your default drink
〰️ Giving your mouth a break between meals
〰️ If you drink alcohol, choosing non-alcoholic options more often
〰️ Resetting your jaw muscles (and reducing your stress)
〰️ Sticking to the basics
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The flip side is that the things that protect your oral health are often the same things that protect your overall health.
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〰️ Gum disease is linked to heart disease.
〰️ Oral health and diabetes influence each other.
〰️ Oral bacteria can affect respiratory health.
〰️ And emerging research is even linking oral health to cognitive function.
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Today is World Oral Health Day, and this year’s message is one we love: A happy mouth is a happy life.
We’re proud to partner with Health and Wellbeing Queensland on a blog exploring how what happens in your mouth can influence your overall health.
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A group of people stand in front of a pull up banner that has the words "Give us an ad break" on it. They are looking at the camera smiling.
We’re proud to support this campaign and call on the Federal Government to introduce clear, consistent legislation that puts our health before the profits of companies that make and market products that cause so much harm.
giveusanadbreak.org.au
#GiveUsAnAdBreak #OralHealth #PublicHealth
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#Prevention is always more effective (and more affordable) than treatment. And it benefits everyone.
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