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Oral Health

Does It REALLY Matter?

American Dental Association

• As an ADA member, a dentist is part of a professional association whose mission is a commitment to the public's oral health, ethics, science and professional advancement; leading a unified profession through initiatives in advocacy, education, research and the development of standards. Each ADA member dentist agrees to adhere to high ethical standards of conduct. These standards are embodied in the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct

• When selecting a whitener or any dental product, be sure to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance—your assurance that they have met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.

Water?

• For over five decades, the American Dental Association has continuously endorsed the fluoridation of community water supplies and the use of fluoride-containing products as safe and effective measures for preventing tooth decay.

• The majority of bottled waters on the market do not contain optimal levels (0.7-1.2 ppm) of fluoride.

Bad Breath

• Bad breath can also be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor. Dry mouth may be caused by various medications, salivary gland problems or continuously breathing through the mouth.

• Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment.

• Mouthwashes are generally cosmetic and do not have a long-lasting effect on bad breath.

• Tobacco products cause bad breath.• If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food

remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odor.

Periodontal (gum) Disease

Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because periodontal (gum) disease is usually painless, however, you may not know you have it.

The signs• gums that bleed when you brush your teeth • red, swollen or tender gums • gums that have pulled away from the teeth • bad breath that doesn't go away • pus between your teeth and gums • loose teeth • a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite • a change in the fit of partial dentures

Just say NO toPeriodontal (gum) Disease

• Brush your teeth well twice a day. This removes the film of bacteria from the teeth. Be sure to use a soft-bristled

toothbrush that is in good condition. Toothpastes and mouth rinses containing fluoride strengthen the teeth and help prevent decay. Choose products that bear the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance, your assurance that they have met the ADA's standards for safety and effectiveness. The ADA reviews all advertising claims for any product bearing the Seal. The Seal on a product is an assurance for consumers and dentists against misleading or untrue statements concerning a product's safety and effectiveness.

• Clean between your teeth every day. Cleaning between your teeth with floss or interdental cleaners removes bacteria

and food particles from between the teeth, where a toothbrush can't reach. Early periodontal (gum) disease can often be reversed by daily brushing and flossing. If you use interdental cleaners, ask your dentist how to use them properly, to avoid injuring your gums.

• Eat a balanced diet. Choose a variety of foods from the basic food groups, such as breads, cereals

and other grain products; fruits; vegetables; meat, poultry and fish; and dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt. Limit between-meal snacks.

• Visit your dentist regularly. It is important to have regular dental checkups, and professional cleaning is

essential to prevent periodontal diseases.

Tooth Decay

• Tooth decay is a destruction of the tooth enamel. It occurs when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) such as milk, pop, raisins, cakes or candy are frequently left on the teeth. Bacteria that live in the mouth thrive on these foods, producing acids as a result. Over a period of time, these acids destroy tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay.

• Recession of the gums away from the teeth, combined with an increased incidence of periodontal (gum) disease, can expose tooth roots to plaque. Tooth roots are covered with cementum, a softer tissue than enamel. They are susceptible to decay and are more sensitive to touch and to hot and cold. The majority of people over age 50 have tooth-root decay.

Methamphetamine Use (Meth Mouth)

According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 12.3 million Americans age 12 and older had tried methamphetamine at least once in their lifetimes (5.2 percent of the population), with the majority of past-year users between 18 and 34 years of age. Significant decreases in the past year use were seen among 12- to 17-year-olds.

  

                       

                   

Oral Cancer

• Oral Cancer often starts as a tiny, unnoticed white or red spot or sore anywhere in the mouth.

• Oral Cancer most often occurs in those who use tobacco in any form.

• Alcohol use combined with smoking greatly increases risk. • Prolonged exposure to the sun increases the risk of lip

cancer. • Other signs include: • A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal • A color change of the oral tissues • A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small eroded area • Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or

on the lips • Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the

jaw or tongue. • A change in the way the teeth fit together

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The Cancerous Facts

• Oral cancer strikes an estimated 34,360 Americans each year.  An estimated 7,550 people (5,180 men and 2,370 women) will die of these cancers in 2007.

• More than 25% of the 30,000 Americans who get oral cancer will die of the disease.

• On average, only half of those diagnosed with the disease will survive more than five years.

• African-Americans are especially vulnerable; the incidence rate is 1/3 higher than whites and the mortality rate is almost twice as high.

Smokeless Tobacco* Do You Like Having Worn Out Gums?* Enjoy the Chronic Bad Breath?* Are You in the Market for Mouth Cancer?* Do You Want the Mounting Dental Problems?* Are You a Fan of Jaw Removal Surgery?

Spit It Out: Dippin' Does You Dirty

SPIT IT OUT

• Who uses spit tobacco? Spit tobacco was once associated with middle-aged and older men. Now, men ages 18 to 24 are the highest users. About 12 million people in the U.S. use smokeless tobacco regularly; 3 million of whom are under 21.1

• The nation's leading public health officials predict that if action is not taken to eliminate the use of spit tobacco today, we will see an epidemic of oral cancer in our lifetime.

• Dippers may be exposed to more cancer-causing chemicals than a one-pack-a-day cigarette smoker, based on the higher nicotine levels per serving in smokeless tobacco.

• Regardless of its form — whether smokeless or cigarettes — all tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive.

• Nicotine continues to be absorbed in the bloodstream, even after the smokeless tobacco has been removed from the mouth.

Which 1 do you want to be?

Ugly Teeth

Sexy Teeth

Healthy Teeth+

Happy Smile=

A Better You!