42 U.S.C. § 280k — Oral healthcare prevention education campaign

(a) Establishment of Oral Health Education Campaign. The Secretary, working through the CDC Director and with oral health groups, must — if money is available — start a 5-year national public education campaign on oral health. This includes preventing tooth decay in young children, gum disease, and oral cancer. (b) Requirements. In building the campaign, the Secretary must: (1) target specific groups — children, pregnant women, parents, older people, people with disabilities, and racial and ethnic minorities including Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians — in ways that fit their culture and language; and (2) use science-based strategies, including messages about community water fluoridation and dental sealants. (c) Action for dental health program. (1) In general — The Secretary, with the CDC Director and the head of the Health Resources and Services Administration, may give grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible groups. These groups work with state, local, and tribal health officials and others to improve oral health, including (A) community-wide programs to prevent dental disease, and (B) raising public awareness of oral health and dental disease prevention. (2) Eligible entities — To qualify for this funding, a group must be (A) a dental association; (B) a state or tribal health department or oral health program; (C) an accredited dental or dental hygiene education program; or (D) a nonprofit community group that partners with others, like a university, to bring dental care to underserved people.