Dental Care & Your Health

DENTAL CARE & YOUR HEALTH Individuals and even some health care professionals remain unaware of the risk factors and preventive approaches for many oral diseases, and they do not fully appreciate how oral health affects overall health and well-being. Several recent studies have associated gum disease with other conditions and diseases such as respiratory, cardiovascular, diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes and breast cancer. GUM DISEASE RELATED DISEASES Cardiovascular Individuals are 2x more Bacterial infection that breaks down gum tissue and can cause tooth loss and serious health problems. likely to suffer from a stroke as a consequence of gum disease than of diabetes.5 TYPES OF GUM DISEASE Heart Attack Gingivitis: A mild form of gum disease which causes the gums to become red, swollen and bleed easily. Diabetes People with diabetes are Periodontitis: An inflammatory disease that affects gum tissue and interferes with other systems of the body. at greater risk for gum disease and can aggravate an existing lung condition. FAST STATS • A poll of 1,000 people over 35 revealed 60% of adults knew little, if anything, about gum disease. Respiratory Periodontal • More than 8% of American adults between the ages of 20 and 64 suffer from periodontal disease. disease may play a causal role in the contraction of Obesity pneumonia, bronchitis and • Nearly 75% of American adults suffer from various forms of gum disease & don't even know it.4 emphysema. Osteoporosis Pregnancy Pre-term labor is 7x more likely in mothers-to-be that have periodontal disease than BARRIERS TO ORAL HEALTH 1. More than 50% of uninsured Americans skipped necessary dental care visits during the last year due to financial burdens.' 2. While 172 million Americans under 65 have private health insurance, only 45 million of them have any sort of dental plan. 3. Accessing oral health is difficult for those living below the federal poverty level and for children covered by Medicaid. 4. Dental coverage largely determines access to oral healthcare, but many people often do not have dental insurance or discount dental plans. 5. Even with coverage, people frequently do not get needed services due to a lack of providers accepting public insurance. women with healthy gums. Breast Cancer Women with chronic periodontal disease, indicated by missing molars, have a higher incidence of breast cancer. 으 ORAL HEALTH SOLUTIONS 1. Brush 2x daily. 2. Floss daily. 3. Dental checkups, 2x a year. 7. Eat foods with polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g., salmon & peanut butter). 8. Stop smoking. 9. Keep up with dental appointments. 10. Use discount dental plans. 4. Chew sugarless gum. 5. Skip late-night eating. 6. Drink green tea. DentalPlans.com SOURCES: 1. 20o09 Harris Interective/HealthDay Poll 2. Harrig Interactive 3. National Institutes of Health 4, American Dental Hygienist Association 5, Oritish Dentel Health Foundation 6. Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry 7. Breast Cancer Rosearch & Treatment Journal 8US Bureau of Labor Statistics 9. Inctitute of Medicine DENTAL CARE & YOUR HEALTH Individuals and even some health care professionals remain unaware of the risk factors and preventive approaches for many oral diseases, and they do not fully appreciate how oral health affects overall health and well-being. Several recent studies have associated gum disease with other conditions and diseases such as respiratory, cardiovascular, diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes and breast cancer. GUM DISEASE RELATED DISEASES Cardiovascular Individuals are 2x more Bacterial infection that breaks down gum tissue and can cause tooth loss and serious health problems. likely to suffer from a stroke as a consequence of gum disease than of diabetes.5 TYPES OF GUM DISEASE Heart Attack Gingivitis: A mild form of gum disease which causes the gums to become red, swollen and bleed easily. Diabetes People with diabetes are Periodontitis: An inflammatory disease that affects gum tissue and interferes with other systems of the body. at greater risk for gum disease and can aggravate an existing lung condition. FAST STATS • A poll of 1,000 people over 35 revealed 60% of adults knew little, if anything, about gum disease. Respiratory Periodontal • More than 8% of American adults between the ages of 20 and 64 suffer from periodontal disease. disease may play a causal role in the contraction of Obesity pneumonia, bronchitis and • Nearly 75% of American adults suffer from various forms of gum disease & don't even know it.4 emphysema. Osteoporosis Pregnancy Pre-term labor is 7x more likely in mothers-to-be that have periodontal disease than BARRIERS TO ORAL HEALTH 1. More than 50% of uninsured Americans skipped necessary dental care visits during the last year due to financial burdens.' 2. While 172 million Americans under 65 have private health insurance, only 45 million of them have any sort of dental plan. 3. Accessing oral health is difficult for those living below the federal poverty level and for children covered by Medicaid. 4. Dental coverage largely determines access to oral healthcare, but many people often do not have dental insurance or discount dental plans. 5. Even with coverage, people frequently do not get needed services due to a lack of providers accepting public insurance. women with healthy gums. Breast Cancer Women with chronic periodontal disease, indicated by missing molars, have a higher incidence of breast cancer. 으 ORAL HEALTH SOLUTIONS 1. Brush 2x daily. 2. Floss daily. 3. Dental checkups, 2x a year. 7. Eat foods with polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g., salmon & peanut butter). 8. Stop smoking. 9. Keep up with dental appointments. 10. Use discount dental plans. 4. Chew sugarless gum. 5. Skip late-night eating. 6. Drink green tea. DentalPlans.com SOURCES: 1. 20o09 Harris Interective/HealthDay Poll 2. Harrig Interactive 3. National Institutes of Health 4, American Dental Hygienist Association 5, Oritish Dentel Health Foundation 6. Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry 7. Breast Cancer Rosearch & Treatment Journal 8US Bureau of Labor Statistics 9. Inctitute of Medicine