Dental checkups and teeth cleanings ward off diseases that steal not only good oral health but overall health, as well.
America’s Founding Father Benjamin Franklin wrote, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” taking the idea from the old English proverb, “Eat an apple on going to bed and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.” A doctor of teeth, whom we know as a dentist, would ask how a man can eat an apple if his teeth are in bad shape. I propose this rhyme: “Disease is a thief to a man with no teeth.”
Dr. Matthew Bridges and our team at Chisholm Trail Smile Center want to help you prevent oral diseases that negatively impact overall health. At our Duncan, OK, dental office, your family will have access to gentle, comprehensive dental care delivered by a team of experts who go above and beyond to exceed our patients’ expectations.
In today’s blog, you’ll learn:
- Statistics about tooth loss in the USA
- What gum disease and dental caries are
- How to deter oral diseases and retain natural teeth
- The need for dental restorations and prosthetics
- How to kick off a lifestyle that promotes whole health
Statistics on US Tooth Loss
Today, more people keep their natural teeth for life than in any previous generation. Access to professional dental care and public dental health education have influenced this statistic. Though it’s possible to keep natural teeth for life, tooth loss is still rampant, particularly in the over-65 demographic.
According to the American College of Prosthodontics,
- 178 million Americans are missing one or more teeth
- 40 million Americans have lost all teeth
- 30% of Americans 65 to 74 years of age have no natural teeth
Gum Disease and Dental Caries
The main causes of tooth loss in adults are periodontal (gum) disease and dental caries (cavities). Issues like smoking, alcohol consumption, poor oral hygiene, and dry mouth contribute to tooth loss. Avoiding six-month dental cleanings and checkups allows these issues to steal good oral health, and poor oral health negatively affects overall health and wellness.
Gum disease is an oral disease that begins when plaque and calcified plaque, called tartar or calculus, irritate soft oral tissues. Bacteria in plaque accumulate at the gum line and eat away connective tissues that hold gums to teeth. As a result, periodontal pockets form at the base of teeth, creating a harbor for the rapidly reproducing bacteria. Without treatment, gum disease can progress to cause tooth loss. In fact, gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in American adults.
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance the body creates–harder than bone. It’s also the second hardest naturally occurring substance on earth, next to diamonds.
Dental cavities form when tooth enamel becomes soft in response to acids created by bad oral bacteria. In its softer state, tooth enamel is vulnerable to bacterial invasion. The bacteria eat tooth structure, leaving black cavities in their wake. Without a dentist intervening to repair cavities, the decay will spread and kill teeth, gum tissue, and jawbone tissues.
Dental Cleanings, Checkups, and Good Daily Oral Hygiene Habits Deter Disease
I cannot stress enough that good dental hygiene is imperative to good oral and overall health. A mere 13.5% of American adults floss daily. If you brush and floss daily, and visit us twice a year for dental cleanings and checkups, your mouth and body will be healthier.
In addition to causing bad breath and tooth loss, gum disease is linked to an increased risk for overall health problems like:
- Ischemic stroke
- Heart disease
- Respiratory disease
- Osteoporosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Diabetes complications
- Low-weight births
Dental Restorations and Prosthetics
Dental cleanings and checkups allow Dr. Bridges and our team to detect and treat gum disease, cavities, tooth fractures, infections, and other oral health problems before they escalate. Patients who experience these issues can restore dental health with restorations and prosthetics by Dr. Bridges.
Dental restorations include dental fillings, crowns, and partial crowns known as inlays and onlays. Dental prosthetics replace teeth with bridges, partial dentures, full dentures, and dental implants. As a gentle dentist, Dr. Bridges helps patients recover good oral health through restorative dental care.
Kick Off a Lifestyle of Great Health
If you and your family want to initiate a strategy to improve oral health, schedule your dental cleanings, checkups, and restorative appointments by calling our Duncan, OK, dentist office at 580-255-4880 or schedule your appointment online. Our office is located at 2035 West Elk Ave., and we take appointments from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Thursday. We are accepting new patients and look forward to meeting you!
