This three-part article series provides 10 fascinating dental facts that might just help you improve your daily oral health and hygiene habits.
Welcome back to this three-part article series in which dental implants specialists in New Jersey walk us through some very interesting and, at times, surprising facts about oral health and hygiene. In our previous article post, the first installment, the following were discussed:
Fact # 1: Tooth decay is the most common ailment in the United States, second only to the influenza or the common cold.
Fact # 2: You should brush your teeth for two minutes at a time, three times a day. Most Americans only brush their teeth for 38 seconds PER DAY!
Fact # 3: If you don’t floss your teeth, you’re going to bed with 35% of your tooth surfaces covered in plaque!
Pretty surprising, isn’t it? It’s enough to make one reconsider their home oral hygiene routine and perhaps take a few extra measures to keep it in good shape! Let’s continue with some more dental facts.
Fact # 4: The staggering majority of Americans’ oral health is in serious trouble.
According to the Center for Disease Control, a shocking 75% of Americans have gum disease or periodontitis. “Periodontitis is an oral ailment that is characterized by an advanced bacterial infection of the gums, the tooth roots and the underlying jaw bone,” explain dental implants specialists in New Jersey. “This disease is responsible for the loss of millions of teeth every year and is the most prevalent reason patients come to us requiring oral rehabilitation.”
The reason so many people have gum disease is quite simply because our lifestyles are not conducive to a healthy mouth. We eat the wrong foods; we drink the wrong things… we still smoke in spite of our awareness of the associated dangers. To top it all off, we just don’t put in the effort necessary to keep our teeth and gums clean and free from plaque, nor do we see our dentists frequently enough for preventative healthcare.
“Gum disease is a serious problem that is linked with other major systemic diseases,” say dental implants specialists in NJ. “You must seek treatment for oral conditions, because your mouth is connected to your body’s vital organs and systems. An unhealthy mouth can leave your general health compromised and even fatally so.”
Fact # 5: Nearly all systemic diseases share a connection with oral health.
Systemic diseases are those that involve more than just one organ or area of the body, even in the beginning stages. In fact, they usually affect the body as a whole. Patients with diabetes, for example, are far more likely to suffer from gum disease. The take-home message here is the importance of good oral health in the maintenance of whole body health. If you knew that periodontitis has been linked with diseases of the heart, respiratory system, kidneys and liver, in addition to Alzheimer’s, Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and pre-term labor, you’d probably feel a lot less comfortable about skipping brushing your teeth!
Fact # 6: Because of the above-mentioned reason, being sloppy about keeping your teeth clean can leave you at a greater risk of a heart attack!
Good oral hygiene and health can actually lower your risk of a suite of serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses, including heart attack, stroke and those mentioned in Fact # 5. Make sure you book yourself in for regular professional cleanings and check-ups, too!
Stay Tuned for Part 3
To read some final fascinating dental facts provided to us by dental implants specialists in NJ, stay tuned for the final installment of this three-part article series.