All of us at Hilldale Dental hope you had time to enjoy at least one of the many 4th of July celebrations around the area during the past weekend.
Independence Day also got us thinking – we are fortunate to live in a country where more than 60% of all people over the age of 18 say they went to the dentist last year; 83% of children between the ages of 2 and 17, also made a dental visit in 2014, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
But is it enough? Dental health is essential to your overall health. Good oral health can support or improve your ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew, swallow, and even make facial expressions to show your feelings and emotions.
Did you know:
- If you do not floss, 40% of your tooth’s surface remains dirty.
- It only take 72 hours for plaque to harden into tartar, causing gingivitis.
- 47% of adults have gum disease; it increases to 70% for those over the age of 60.
One program meant to increase education and awareness of dental health is the American Dental Association’s “Healthy People 2020.” We are excited to know it includes resources for collaborations, public-private parnerships, and community-based intervention, with many goals set to be achieved by the year 2020, including:
- Reducing the number of adults with untreated dental decay by 15%.
- Reducing the number of children under the age of 18 with untreated dental decay by 15%.
- Increasing the number of low-income children who received preventive dental services during the previous year by 15%.
What can you easily do in your own home right now, to support dental health?
- Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months, but more often if you’ve been sick.
- Floss, floss, floss.
- Rinse your mouth with an anti-septic mouthwash for 30 seconds, twice a day to prevent plaque build-up.
- Chew sugarless gum with only xylitol as a sweetner for 20-minutes following your meals to prevent tooth decay.
Simple measures leading to healthier people, and a nation we can all be proud of.