ADA policy defines oral health literacy as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate oral health decisions. It also recognizes that by improving health literacy, patients are better stewards of their own health. You can improve health literacy by using simple communication with the patient and confirming comprehension so that the risk of miscommunication is minimized. You can support patients' efforts to improve their oral health by using strategies that make the dental office environment and health care system easier to navigate.
Health Literacy in Dentistry
2026 Dental Student Health Literacy Video Contest
Health Literacy Through a Dental Lens: Addressing Social Media Misinformation
Contest Overview
The American Dental Association, in collaboration with the National Oral Health Literacy Alliance, invites dental students from U.S. dental schools to participate in the 2026 Dental Student Health Literacy Video Contest. Students are encouraged to create a short, engaging video that addresses misleading oral health messages found on social media and demonstrates how to communicate accurate, science-based information using plain language and health literacy best practices.
Who Can Participate
Dental students from all U.S. dental schools are invited to participate. Students may collaborate with classmates to create their video submission.
Video Submission Requirement
Submit a 60- to 90-second vertical video reel for the public that addresses dental misinformation in plain language using health literacy best practices.
Contest Prompt
Imagine you are seeing patients share misleading oral health messages from social media about “do-it-yourself” dental care. What would you advise the public, including other health professionals, about these misleading messages?
Videos may address one or more topics, including:
- Do-it-yourself dental care
- Teeth whitening
- Tooth extractions
- Clear aligners
- Fluoridation
- Dental radiographs
- Filling materials
- Toothpastes
Before Creating Your Video
Before producing your video, participants should:
- Review the Oral Health Literacy Toolkit, including health literacy principles for the dental team and sample scripts using the “teach-back” technique.
- Review science-based literature and ADA resources related to the selected topic.
- Review the production guidelines available below.
Production Guidelines
To help ensure your video meets submission requirements, please follow these production guidelines.
Technical specifications
Videos must be submitted using the following format:
- Orientation: Vertical, 9:16
- Resolution: Minimum 1080 × 1920 pixels, Full HD
- File format: MP4
- Additional Guidelines (PDF)
Content restrictions
Please follow these requirements when creating your video:
- Do not use copyrighted sounds or music. All sounds and music must be copyright free.
- Do not show external brand names or logos of non-ADA organizations within the visual content.
- Do not wear clothing or accessories with visible brand names or logos.
- Do not use explicit language in conjunction with any brand integration or placement.
- Do not use sexual language or acts in association with any brand integration or placement.
- Do not reference illegal drugs in association with any brand integration or placement.
- Do not make religious or political associations in the context of any brand integration or placement.
- Do not disparage any brand and/or creative advertising.
Important Dates
Prescreening deadline: August 15, 2026
Videos submitted by this date may be prescreened upon request to help entrants comply with the official rules.
Final submission deadline: September 8, 2026
Early submission is encouraged.
Prizes
1st Prize: $2,000 to be shared by team members, plus travel to the 2027 ADEA Meeting
2nd Prize: $1,000 to be shared by team members
3rd Prize: $500 to be shared by team members
How to Submit
Read the contest rules carefully and submit the entry form with your video to: caap@ada.org
For general contest questions or technical questions email caap@ada.org.
Health Literacy Resources
Become a better communicator with your patients and staff so that the information you share with them is easily understood and can be acted upon. Read the action guide.
- CDC Health Literacy for Public Health Professionals
A web-based course to educate public health professionals on the importance of health literacy and their role in providing health information and services and promoting public health literacy. - Federal Plain Language Guidelines
The website contains training and resources for writing plain language. - Center for Plain Language
The website contains best practices for using, learning, and teaching plain language. - Smiles for life - A National Oral Health Curriculum
Smiles for Life produces educational resources to ensure the integration of oral health and primary care
- CDC Health Literacy Basics
- MouthHealthy.org - American Dental Association's Consumer Website
- Oral Health Kansas Tips and Tricks
- Healthy Teeth
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
- National Maternal & Child Oral Health Resource Center
The ADA Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention (CAAP) sponsored its first Health Literacy Essay Contest for dental students in 2015 per the suggestion of Dr. Sorin Teich, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. The Ohio Dental Association also collaborated on this initiative.
The ADA Dental Student Health Literacy Contest has become a teaching tool for this subject in dental schools throughout the country. This year, NACHLD decided to transition the essay contest to a video format that would allow students to collaborate and utilize their creativity.
The objectives of the contest are to increase students' knowledge about oral health literacy principles and build their skills in communicating effectively with patients. Specifically, we are asking dental students to use proven communication techniques such as “teach-back” and “motivational interviewing” to educate patients. This year we are asking students to develop a 3–4-minute video educating patients on misinformation.