Oral Health (USA).
Here’s a look at some key statistics on dental disease and prevention.
“Tooth decay, affecting 90% of adults aged 20 to 64 years, and gum disease, affecting almost 50% of adults aged 45 to 64 years, remain two of the most prevalent oral diseases.”
“Tobacco use and diabetes are two risk factors for gum disease.”
https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/oralhealthinamerica/section-3a-summary/
“Flossing Habits: One-third of Americans floss daily, one-third floss occasionally, and one-third never floss.”
“According to a study by Delta Dental, 31% of Americans fail to brush their teeth at least twice a day, with two percent admitting to not brushing at all.”
https://fortsondentistry.com/blog/crazy-dental-statistics/
Some more statistics for 2024:
“Half of all children aged 6–9 years have had cavities in their primary or permanent teeth.
Nearly 1 in 5 adults aged 75 years or older had lost all their teeth.”
https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/php/2024-oral-health-surveillance-report/selected-findings.html
That information got me thinking about my own oral health.
It’s important to ask yourself the right question and answer it honestly:
Am I doing enough to protect myself from these issues?
What more can I do?
I began to search for answers to these questions:
What affects oral health?
How can I reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease?
The good news is, prevention is essentially the same for both cavities and gum disease.
What causes cavities and gum disease?
Sugary foods and drinks.
Highly acidic beverages.
Poor oral hygiene.
Infrequent dental check-ups.
