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Did you know . . .
Of the various reasons
cited for not visiting the dentist in the
past year, almost half of respondents in
a recent survey said they did not think
they had a dental problem. Not having teeth
was the second most frequent reason. Fear
of the dentist was cited by only a very
small percentage of respondents.
An American Dental
Association survey found that men are more
likely than women to suffer from chronic
bad breath. The leading cause of bad breath,
according to the survey, was poor oral hygiene
(63%) followed by periodontal disease (21%).
U.S. and Japanese
studies have found that black or green tea
has antibacterial powers that help prevent
cavities and gum disease.
The average person
brushes two minutes a day, but should brush
five minutes, twice a day.
Dental examinations
can uncover medical problems such as vitamin
deficiencies or the presence of cancer or
HIV. In such cases, the dentist will refer
a patient to the appropriate specialist.
Four of the worst
things you can do to your teeth:
- smoking
- drinking soda containing
sugar
- playing contact
sports without a mouthguard
- using your teeth
as a tool (i.e. to open hairpins, or cut
thread or string)
Jaw muscles can contract
with a force as great as 55 pounds on the
incisors and 200 pounds on the molars.
Over 40 percent of
Americans have at least one tooth that would
benefit from treatment.
The estimated percentage
of people age 18 or older who have either
fillings or untreated cavities is 94%.
The estimated percentage
of Americans ages 6 to 50 who have had one
of their eight front teeth injured is 25%.
Dental-related illnesses
annually result in:
- 20.5 million lost
work days
- 6.1 million days
of bed disability
- 12.7 million days
of restricted activity
- 117,000 missed
hours of class time per 100,000 students
And remember . . .
Your dental office
should ask for a complete medical and dental
history, discuss the cost of recommended
treatment before proceeding and offer prevention
tips and techniques.
Hygienists and dentists
should always wear gloves, protective eye
wear and masks while treating patients.
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