Skip to main content

Tips for oral hygiene part 2

Oral hygiene facts
Poor oral hygiene can increase your chances of developing heart disease. Professional teeth cleanings will reduce the bacteria that cause inflammation and eventually lead to heart disease
A major cause of tooth loss in children is cavities; while periodontal (gum) disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
  • The leading oral health problem for infants is baby bottle tooth decay, which can be caused when babies are given a bottle filled with sugary liquids, like milk or juice, when put to bed.


Oral hygiene statistics
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention:
  • Between 2005-2008, 16 percent of children ages 6-19 and 23 percent of adults 20-64 had untreated cavities.
  • Dental fluorosis (overexposure to fluoride) is higher in adolescents than in adults and highest among those aged 12–15.
  • Most adults show signs of periodontal or gingival diseases. Severe periodontal disease affects approximately 14 percent of adults aged 45-54.
  • 23 percent of 65-74 year olds have severe periodontal disease
  • Men are more likely than women to have more severe dental diseases.
  • Oral cancer occurs twice as frequently in men as women.
  • Three out of four patients don’t change their toothbrush as often as is recommended. Toothbrushes should be changed every two to three months and after illnesses.

Oral hygiene greatly affects overall long-term health, and promotes a more confident you. When it comes to dental care, prevention through daily cleaning and regular visits to the dentist’s office is better not only for your health, but for your budget. That's why it's important for parents to play a key role in reinforcing smart oral hygiene habits. Kids are likely to follow in the footsteps of those who set positive examples and will carry those healthy habits through their own adult lives. Remember, whatever your age, it’s never too late to take a serious stand in keeping your teeth healthy and your smile confident.
visit Woollahra Dental website
References: Medline Plus: Child Dental HealthAdd a Few to Your Next Health StoryUniversity of Missouri: Basic Dental Health for Older Adults; Jerry D. MichelCenters For Disease Control and Prevention: Oral and Dental HealthKaiser Health News: Kids and Dental Health: Rising Costs and Struggling State Programs a Dangerous Mix ; Blaire Briody


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

HOW TO EAT RIGHT FOR YOUR BODY TYPE - What is somatotype?

Find more about Dr. Anthony Ancell  Many people think that “body type” just describes the way someone looks. In fact, your body type can also provide information about how you respond to food intake and about your hormonal and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) characteristics. Physique characteristics can thus be linked to metabolic differences between individuals. Once someone establishes their body type, they can then adjust nutrient intake to maximize body composition and health related goals. There are three general categories of body types (somatotypes): ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph. Very few people fall perfectly into one of the three categories. People are often a mix of characteristics. Additionally, years of training and good nutrition can change the outward appearance of one’s body. For instance, a bodybuilder might be mistaken for a “natural” mesomorph when in fact, s/he is really an endomorph who’s trained and dieted hard; or an ectomorph who’s spent ...
1 comment
Read more

Caffeine and Sleep

At Woollahra Dental Practice would like to share some interesting information from The Sleep Health Foundation about caffeine and sleep How can caffeine affect my sleep? Caffeine is a drug that acts as a stimulant, both mentally and physically. It is found in many drinks and foods that are common in our everyday life. These include tea, coffee, chocolate and cola drinks. Many people do not think of it as a drug. It can be bad for your sleep in three ways. Firstly it can make it harder to go to sleep. Secondly it can make you sleep more lightly and wake up more often during the night. Thirdly, it may make you have to get up to go to the toilet during the night. Some people need more caffeine than others to have the same effect. As a rule, caffeine takes about an hour to reach peak levels in your body. Its effects can last from four to six hours, but your body needs about 24 hours to completely eliminate it. Many people who consume a lot of caffeine think that it no longer stops ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Carb tolerance for your body type

Coming to the festive holiday season, we might need to be more aware of what our bodies can and cannot tolerate. In a previous blog post about BODY TYPES  we discussed the characteristics of the different body types and how to eat for each type. Regardless of your body type, body composition, or overall health status, your ability to handle carbohydrate-dense foods is greatly improved the more active you are. This means that the best time to eat a majority of those starchy (or, less ideally, sugary) foods is when you’re most physically active. Depending on your body type, your carb tolerance and needs are different and your strategy should be different to match. Many people think that “body type” just describes the way someone looks. In fact, your body type can also provide information about how you respond to food intake and about your hormonal and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) characteristics. Curious about your body type? Ask Dr. Anthony Ancell from Woollahra Dent...
1 comment
Read more