Documentary Project: Food as Medicine - Oral Health and Nutrition
Lead: Mtree
Partner: Leibniz-Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology, Seoul National University
Timeline: 2026-2028
Funding needed: $70,000
The Challenge: While dental professionals treat 2.3 billion people affected by tooth decay globally, we rarely address the root cause: food insecurity and lack of access to nutrition that prevents oral disease. In low-income communities, dental disease rates are three times higher, and these same communities often exist in food deserts where fresh, nutrient-rich foods are unavailable or unaffordable.
The Innovation: This documentary project follows the food-to-mouth journey in communities where oral health disparities are most pronounced, documenting how community-controlled agriculture, school lunch transformations, and healthcare integration models become pathways to oral health prevention. Rather than telling people to "eat better," the film addresses structural barriers that make nutritious eating a privilege rather than a choice.
The Program: The documentary will capture community gardens growing health in urban food deserts, school districts revolutionizing meal programs, the intersection of food policy and oral health, traditional food wisdom from indigenous communities, and healthcare integration models where dentists, physicians, and nutritionists collaborate. Each screening includes community engagement sessions, resource sharing, policy advocacy toolkits, and professional development opportunities.
What makes this work? The project recognizes that oral health equity is inseparable from food justice. By documenting solutions rather than just problems, the film creates actionable pathways for replication. Success lies in understanding that prevention requires addressing root causes—that every meal either feeds disease or fights it.
The Impact: This documentary aims to transform how dental professionals understand their role in prevention, connecting individual treatment to systemic change. It will provide working models for integrating nutrition counseling into dental practice, demonstrate successful community partnerships, and advocate for policy changes that address food apartheid as a public health issue.
What's Next? Ida Society seeks dental professionals working in food-insecure communities, practitioners who've integrated nutrition counseling, and providers who've partnered with community organizations to participate in the documentary. The film will premiere at dental conferences and community screenings, with accompanying action toolkits for practice implementation and policy advocacy.
