Oral Health Facts At Your Fingertips

The More Important Details 

Oral health is essential to general health and well-being. This is clearly evidenced by studies. For example, medical conditions like heart disease and stroke are linked to inflammation caused by poor oral hygiene. Hence, daily oral care can keep mouth bacteria from causing infections that can affect other areas of the body.

The oral conditions that most affect overall health and quality of life are cavities, severe gum disease, and severe tooth loss. If simple cavities and gingivitis are not properly addressed early, these conditions become worse and that is when overall wellbeing is jeopardized.

About half of children (52%), by the age of 8 years, have had a cavity in their primary teeth. Since children are unable to brush well by themselves until about 6 years old, they should be well taught and monitored. This also includes proper flossing. A diet rich in sugar and starch contributes to early cavities.

Children from low-income families are twice as likely to have cavities as higher-income children. This can be due to lack of dental instructions and access to dental treatment. 

The prevalence of untreated tooth decay is said to be declining; however there is 1 in 4 adults aged 20 to 64 who currently has cavities. 

To prevent cavities, drinking fluoridated water and getting dental sealants in childhood are effective measures. The use of fluoride is well studied. Not only does it prevent cavities, it also saves money by avoiding expensive dental care.

Two of the biggest risk factors for gum disease are tobacco use and diabetes. Unplanned emergency dental care resulted in 34 million school hours lost each year on the average. Likewise, over $45 billion in US productivity is lost each year due to untreated dental disease.

To benefit patients and save resources, medical-dental integration is essential between oral health and chronic disease prevention programs.

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More Facts of (Oral) Life in Issaquah

Visit your dentist in Issaquah at Meadow Creek Dental for more informative and helpful oral health care tips.