Oral Health Education
Patient education is the cornerstone of Pacific Dental Care. We are constantly educating ourselves on new advances and findings in the dentistry community, always imparting this useful knowledge to our patients.
What would you say is one of the first features you notice about a person? How many people do you think notice a person’s smile first? With so much riding on your smile, here are some additional quick facts you might not know about your teeth:
- Your tooth’s enamel is the hardest part of your body!
- If you brush properly and live the average length human life, you will have spent nearly 40 full days brushing your teeth when all is said and done.
- Adult humans have 32 teeth, while babies only have 20.
- When a tooth is lost, it will start to die within 15 minutes. You can increase the life of a lost tooth by placing it in milk, or keeping it in your mouth. Make sure to call Pacific Dental Care as soon as possible.
- The amount of saliva one human being will produce over their lifespan can fill two olympic-sized swimming pools.
- 25% of kids haven’t been to a dentist by their first day of kindergarten.
- Adults consume 65% of candy produced in the U.S.
- The most common childhood disease is tooth decay.
- Human beings have two sets of teeth over their lifetime, while the average shark has closer to 40.
- The tooth you see when you brush and smile is only the tip of the iceberg. One third of the tooth is located beneath your gums.
- The entire population of the earth doesn’t add up to the amount of bacteria in your mouth right now as we speak.
- At the time of taking the presidency, George Washington only had one of his original teeth left.
- Brushing daily can reduce your chance of tooth decay by 25%.
- The American Dental Association estimates that more than 75% of Americans over 35 have some form of gum disease.
- Keeping your bi-annual visits with Pacific Dental Care can help increase your oral health as well as increase your overall health, which have been shown to be inextricably linked.
The Oral Health / Overall Health Link
In this day and age, more and more convincing evidence continues to mount linking oral health to overall health. Since 1998 the American Academy of Periodontology has made considerable efforts to research and educate the dentistry community and the public about their findings, concluding that bacteria in the mouth can affect other areas of the body.
Gum Disease can help contribute to heart disease, and increased risk of stroke.
People who live with gum disease are two times more likely to suffer from coronary artery disease. Studies have shown that out of observed groups, more people who’ve suffered a stroke were likely to also have gum disease than those who had not suffered a stroke. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. Periodontal bacteria can enter the bloodstream, attaching to fatty plaques in the arteries of the heart, which will cause artery swelling and cause clot formations. This same bacteria can further complicate existing heart conditions like heart murmur by infecting the heart valves.
Increased risk of having preterm, low birth weight baby during pregnancy.
If you’re pregnant, it’s more crucial than ever to stay on top of your oral health. Gum disease, along with smoking, alcohol, and drug use during pregnancy have all been linked to premature birth and low birth weight. Pregnant women who suffer from gum disease are seven times more likely to have a premature baby or a low birth weight baby.
Gum disease poses very serious risks to those who live with diabetes, respiratory disease, and osteoporosis.
People who suffer from diabetes, respiratory disease, and osteoporosis are more susceptible to infection in general. Periodontal disease is actually considered one of the complications of diabetes because it facilitates sugar entering the blood, wreaking havoc on blood sugar levels. Bacteria in the throat and mouth can also be drawn into the lower respiratory tract, which will cause infections and elevate lung complications. Osteoporosis can lead to bone loss in the jaw and also tooth loss, since density of the bone decreases.
The moral of the story here is not to mess with your oral health, because it can lead to costlier complications down the road. When you stay on top of your bi-annual check-ups at Pacific Dental Care we can closely monitor your progress and help build a foundation of great oral health that you can enjoy for a lifetime to come. Contact Pacific Dental Care today to schedule your next visit.
Shimazaki Y, et al. Intake of dairy products and periodontal disease: The Hisayama Study. Journal of Periodontology. 2008;79:131-137.
{Scientific synopsis provided by Mary Martin Nordness, MA, RD, LD, CHES Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, Inc.}
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