About Healthy Mouths
Healthy Mouths was created with the goal of making free and easy-to-understand oral health information accessible to everyone.
Good oral health begins with education. Yet many people do not have access to the information they need to prevent dental disease and keep their mouths healthy. Thus, Healthy Mouths bridges that gap by providing free, evidence-based educational resources that empower individuals, families, caregivers, educators, and healthcare professionals to build healthier habits, improve oral health outcomes, and make informed decisions.
This webpage contains information about oral health across the lifespan along with tips on brushing, flossing, nutrition, and more. All information is written and developed by students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry and reviewed by dental faculty at the school. The project is funded and supported by the American Association of Public Health Dentistry Foundation.
Our Story
Healthy Mouths was founded by Hannah Archer, a dental student at the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry, as part of a research project investigating access to oral health education. The project evaluated safety net clinic websites throughout North Carolina and found that many offered little or no oral health information for patients, indicating a gap in trustworthy resources. To address this gap, Healthy Mouths was developed. The website was then implemented across participating safety net clinic websites. The findings demonstrated use and engagement with the webpage content, reiterating the need for this information. The findings from this work were later published in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry, highlighting the growing need for accessible, trustworthy online oral health education.
Built by Public Health Leaders
Now, Healthy Mouths has transformed and grown into a collaborative initiative led by the UNC Adams School of Dentistry American Association of Public Health Dentistry Student Chapter. The information on the website has been updated by the executive team to include current, evidence-based recommendations and best practices in oral and overall health. All educational content undergoes faculty review to ensure that all content is prevention-focused, evidence-based, inclusive, and relevant to today's oral health priorities.
Looking Ahead
The American Association of Public Health Dentistry Foundation is supporting the expansion and redesign of Healthy Mouths. This includes improved webpage navigation, enhanced graphics, multilingual accessibility, search engine optimization, and a more engaging learning experience. Prior to national expansion, the accessibility of the webpage will also be evaluated and improved through extensive message testing at the local, state, and national level.
Ultimately, our team wants to contribute to a future where every individual can easily find trusted oral health information that empowers them to live healthier lives. By combining research, public health, prevention, and patient education, Healthy Mouths strives to improve oral health literacy, reduce preventable dental disease, and promote healthier communities across the nation.