Oral Health the Black Infant

Oral Health

The Black Infant Health (BIH) program is part of an overall effort to educate and empower African-American women who have struggled with mental illness, substance abuse, and domestic violence. With a unique focus on oral health for pregnant women, the BIH shows how oral hygiene awareness is crucial for both mother and baby. Our research is important because of the role that BIH plays in the community, and the need to sustain interest in the program.

However, the research is also instrumental for helping students and case workers better understand the real needs of their clients. The research proves the power of collaboration, and points to ways that the community can develop ongoing programs like BIH that will empower and help its residents. The experience may be especially valuable for dental students, who need or want public health experience or community service opportunities. Dental students can use the BIH program and associated research as an opportunity to develop skills, network with community leaders, and discover ways to apply their knowledge and practice to public health. The BIH program also shows how dentists can play a role in the community as facilitators of change.

Oral hygiene is often omitted from public health programs. On the contrary, our research shows how oral hygiene is an integral part of public health. The emphasis on pregnant women also helped to dispel many myths such as the perceived dangers of radiology.

The BIH program empowers and educates in general, even beyond the boundaries of oral hygiene. For example, our research showed that before the BIH program commenced, pregnant participants demonstrated very little knowledge of oral health in general. General understanding of the relevance of oral health was quite low. After the program, a perfect score of 10/10 questions demonstrated that all participants had gained knowledge and awareness. Active learning skills developed during the course of the BIH can be applied to other areas of public health. This research shows what tools and techniques worked: such as the visual presentations and the question-and-answer sessions that allowed participants to clarify issues.

Follow-up research with the participants would help the mothers put into practice what they learned during the BIH program. For example, the participants can count on receiving direct knowledge about the best way to brush and floss. The program helps participants to limit their children's exposure to sugars other preventative measures can create lifelong oral health habits for the next generation. Participants also learn about the role the dentist plays in their lives, and thereby develops trust.