Dental Facts

PERIODONTAL DISEASE (Perio/Pyorrhea)

• #1 infection in America is periodontal disease. Perio is more common than the common cold.
• 75-80% of Americans will have periodontal disease at sometime.
• Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection in your mouth. It can be treated two ways ... surgical or non-surgical.
• Perio affects 3 out of 4 American adults.
• Perio is the #1 cause of tooth loss in adults 35 and over.
• Periodontal disease is linked to... stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and preterm low birth weight babies.
• Some signs of periodontal disease include... bleeding gums - red, swollen and tender gums - gums that have pulled away from the teeth - constant bad breath - pus - loose teeth.
• About 66% of young adults have perio.
• About 50% of adolescents have perio.
• Periodontal disease affects more than 1/2 of the people over age 30.

FLOSSING

• Flossing will add 7 years to your life.
• On a list of the top 10 things you can do to help you live longer... flossing is #2.
• If you do not floss, 40% of your teeth surfaces NEVER get cleaned.

ORAL CANCER

• 1 American dies every hour from oral cancer.
• About 34,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer each year. Only 1/2 of those will still be alive in 5 years.
• 27% percent of victims with oral cancer do not use tobacco products. 75 % diagnosed are tobacco users.
• 70% of oral cancer lesions that are found in the dental office, by checking with our eyes only... are already in Stages 3 & 4 .
• We have new technology that will help us detect oral cancer sooner. (ask your hygienist for more information)
• The oral cancer survival rate is less than 59%.
• There is a 60% increase in oral cancer for patients 18-39, because HPV is linked to oral cancer. HPV is the virus that causes cervical cancer and genital warts.
• Oral cancer is one of the most expensive cancers to treat - the average cost for treating an advanced case is $200,000.

PLAQUE

• Plaque begins reforming on your teeth 4-12 hours after brushing.