Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF)  is running a short survey (13–27 February) to understand people’s experiences with public #dental care, barriers such as cost and travel, and views on including dental care as a normal part of #healthcare. 🧵1/2

Today Food Ministers have agreed to make the Health Star Rating mandatory on all packaged food. When labelling is voluntary, it’s the food industry that decides what we see. Products that score well get the star. Products that don’t… quietly don’t. 🧵 1/8

Good oral health should be an unremarkable part of living well, not a marker of wealth or worth. This piece from @theconversation.com reminds us that “poor teeth” aren’t about poor choices. They’re the imprint of cost, access, and a system that still treats oral health as optional. 🧵 1/4

"We found preventative investments could save taxpayers billions of dollars in health and social care costs. But to achieve these gains, the way we think about investing in prevention needs to change." - Dr Angela Jackson 🧵 1/5

We’re kicking off 2026 with our first newsletter that explores some of the big conversations shaping oral health in Australia and around the world. 🧵1/3

We're super excited that our Chair, Dr Alexandra Jones will join an incredible mix of local and international speakers at the Australian Progress Conference this year in Naarm (Melbourne) and online. 🧵 1/4

⚖️ Which #NCDs count—and why? A World Economic Forum report quietly elevates chronic kidney disease while sidelining oral health, dementia, air pollution, & obesity. ⚕️Priorities follow what systems can manage—not necessarily what people live with! INSIDE VIEW: Habib Benzian @weforum.org 📖⬇️ & 🔁🙏

A useful way to think about fluoride isn’t to start with chemistry, but with a simpler question: How are we going with tooth decay rates in Australia? If tooth decay was no longer a problem, the fluoride conversation would look very different. But the data tells us we’re not there yet. 🧵 1/3

🦷 Plot twist: your mouth is way more involved in your health than you might think. This great explainer from The Conversation by Prof Aylin Baysan looks at the two-way relationship between oral health and diabetes. 🧵1/5

At the recent United Nations General Assembly, world leaders adopted a landmark political declaration on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health, and for the first time, oral health is explicitly part of the picture. 🧵 1/8

Many of us are taught that good oral health comes down to effort: brush well, floss daily, don’t eat too much sugar, and your teeth should be fine. Those habits really do matter. They protect your teeth and gums, support a healthy mouth, and make a genuine difference over time. 🧵 1/3

From all of us at FRED, we hope you are spending time this summer doing things that fill your cup. Whether it’s spending time in nature, catching up with family and friends, cooling off with a swim, or diving into a good book. 📚🌊 🧵1/4

Hot weather, long road trips, extra snacking, sugary drinks, and holiday stress can all shift what’s happening inside your mouth. So this week, we’re sharing some simple ways to keep your oral health on track over summer. 🧵 1/3

Our final eNewsletter of the year is hot off the press! In this edition: 🧡 Top tips for looking after your oral health this summer 🧡 Dr Alexandra Jones in @croakeynews.bsky.social about why VicHealth’s independence is foundational to its mission and success 1/2

'It's cooked': Big Brother contestant quit so she could afford the dentist: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-14/abiola-big-brother-prize-money-dentist/106135150

People pulling own teeth due to lack of urgent NHS dental care in England, watchdog finds

Every child should be able to play, learn and live in a world that supports and promotes their wellbeing without seeing ads promoting products that harm their health. 🧵 1/6

Cosmetic veneers are everywhere. Scroll through social media and you’ll find glossy before-and-after shots and fast “perfect smile” transformations. But what rarely gets airtime is the stuff that really matters when you’re making a big decision about your mouth. 🧵 1/3

"When you work on the frontline of healthcare, you see very quickly where health systems are failing people. You see what happens when we wait until crisis hits. You see what happens when prevention is treated as optional rather than essential." 🧵 1/3

This week our Co-Founders Dr Alexandra Jones and @jo-joia-le.bsky.social signed an open letter calling on the Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan to keep VicHealth independent, strong & fully funded. 🧵 1/6

🚨⚕️🚩 @jillstark.bsky.social @ronnisalt.bsky.social please amplify our voices across Victoria to save #VicHealth . We need common sense pressure on the Victorian State Government to reverse the recent budget decision to #SaveVicHealth See www.linkedin.com/posts/david-... and others. #auspol #springst

Who will benefit from this decision? The list would have to include: vaping/tobacco industry; alcohol & gambling interests; those who profit from unhealthy food systems.... Who else? www.croakey.org/shock-and-al...

The team at FRED are shocked to hear the statement made by the Victorian Premier this week, announcing plans to absorb VicHealth into the Victorian Department of Health. Prevention works best when it’s independent, community-driven and able to move quickly. 🧵 1/5

New on our blog: The truth about dental fillings! Fillings are one of the most common dental treatments, but they might also be the most misunderstood. 🧵 1/4

We've just released the November edition of our eNewsletter! Through our newsletter we touch on preventive oral health insights, stories, and updates from across our network of community members, health professionals, decision-makers, partners, donors and advocates. 🧵 1/2

“If we are serious about giving every child the chance to thrive, we must listen to what the evidence tells us and respond with courage, collaboration, and care. Together, we can turn knowledge into lasting change.” - Professor Fiona Stanley AC, FAA, FASSA, FAHMS 🧵 1/7

When we’re looking at how we can improve oral health, we need to look beyond the individual to the whole system. This includes how commercial interests influence our diets and government policy. 🧵 1/5

Want to save millions of dollars and a lot of pain? Learn how to take care of your #teeth. According to Dr Alexandra Jones at Friends of Really Excellent Dentistry #OralHealth education is key to preventing tooth decay. More on our InTouch blog: shorturl.at/6EI1W

Presenting a vision for comprehensive primary healthcare, drawing upon what's been shown to work best www.croakey.org/presenting-a...

We’ve joined more than 20 leading health and community organisations including @publichealthaus.bsky.social, Diabetes Australia, ACOSS, Heart Foundation & Nutrition Australia to support the ‘Rethink Sugary Drinks’ campaign. Sugary drinks are a major cause of tooth decay. 🧵 1/4

‘There is no health without oral health’. This is the call to action from the World Federation of Public Health Associations with the release of their policy statement ‘Integrating Oral Health into the Global NCD and UHC Agendas – A Call to Action for Public Health Associations’. 🧵 1/7

"The Australian Government is establishing a new National Oral Health Plan (2025–2034) – an opportunity to make a change." 🧵1/4

Ever noticed your child’s wobbly baby tooth starting to look a bit red, and felt a moment of panic? 😬 In our latest blog, our Co-Founder and Chair, Dr Alexandra Jones explains what’s really going on and why it’s usually nothing to worry about. 🧵 1/3

And that's a wrap on this week's @croakeynews.bsky.social bulletin. The theme is: "Fighting for health" Subscriptions are available here: www.croakey.org/subscribe-to...

We’ve joined the Food for Health Alliance campaign ‘Kids are sweet enough’. The campaign calls for better labelling and standards around baby and toddler foods so that families can make informed decisions about food products. 🧵 1/5

"Telling someone to brush better, floss more, or eat less sugar might be clinically recommended, but it’s meaningless if they’re struggling to afford a toothbrush, to find a dentist they trust, or to manage chronic pain while juggling two jobs." 🧵 1/3

"Dental conditions are the leading cause of preventable hospitalisations in NSW, costing the NSW public and private health system an average of $147 million per year." This is the staggering finding by a new report released by NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS) last week. 🧵 1/6

At FRED, we believe oral health is an integral part of our overall health. But not everyone has access to the information or support they need to care for their mouth, teeth, and gums throughout life. 🧵1/5

Oral diseases are the most common non communicable disease in the Western Pacific Region, affecting 800 million people. Much of this is preventable. Despite it being critical to eating well and staying connected, it has been a long neglected part of our healthcare. 🧵 1/5

When most of us spot a dark patch on a tooth, we assume the worst - decay! But sometimes, that little black or brown mark is actually a sign your mouth is healing itself. 🧵 1/3

At FRED, our vision is a future where all Australians enjoy good oral health and the many benefits it brings. Our Chair and Co-Founder, Dr Alexandra Jones reflects on how 30+ yrs in dentistry led her to pursue her passion for making oral health care more equitable. www.linkedin.com/posts/alexan...

Today on our blog, our Chair and Co-Founder, Dr Alexandra Jones talks teeth grinding, what causes it, and what you can do about it. 🦷 www.fred.org.au/latestnews/w... #OralHealth #Prevention #PreventiveHealth #Dental #FRED

Good oral health is so important to our general health and wellbeing - so why aren’t governments doing more to ensure that we have access to the information, resources and services that we need to improve the health of our mouths? 🧵 1/6

We believe prevention is one of the best ways to improve the oral #health of all Australians. We’ve made a submission on the Draft Framework of the National Oral Health Plan (2025–2034), an important step towards reshaping how Australia approaches oral health. 🦷 www.fred.org.au/latestnews

It’s a critical time for rethinking the way that we support people to have good oral health, with policy development at the global, regional and national level all supporting an increased focus. Let’s take a look at what’s happening… #oralhealth #preventivehealth 1/

Did you know your mouth is a whole ecosystem, with heroes like saliva, enamel + gums working 24/7 to keep you healthy? Find out more on our blog. www.fred.org.au/latestnews/b...

“FRED was born from the idea that we can do better - and that by working together, we will.” Our Chair and Co-Founder, Dr Alexandra Jones unpacks why preventive oral health deserves a seat at the table. www.fred.org.au/latestnews/b...

Meet FRED! A new health promotion charity working for a future where all Australians enjoy good oral health. We focus on: 💻 Digital tools to empower communities 👩‍⚕️ Building workforce capacity 📣 Advocacy that centers prevention and equity www.fred.org.au #OralHealth #Prevention #HealthEquity