4 Frightening Dental Statistics You Should Know

October 22, 2020

Filed under: Uncategorized — guthrieddsteam @ 11:00 pm
Scared child at the dentist

Did you know that most oral health issues are easily preventable with proper oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist? With so many advancements in dentistry over the last few decades, a lot of problems could easily be a thing of the past. Despite this, there are still all sorts of surprising and scary statistics out there about oral health in the United States. Your dentist in Ardmore shares what those are and how to keep yourself from becoming one of them.

Nearly Half of Adults 30 Years and Older Have Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is a gum infection that damages the soft tissues in your mouth and can even destroy the bone that supports your teeth if left untreated. If it progresses to later stages, you could even find yourself with loose teeth or your teeth falling out entirely. The scary statistic is that an estimated 47% of adults aged 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease right now. For adults who are 65 years or older, that number goes all the way up to 70%!

Fortunately, periodontal disease is easily preventable and can even be reversed in its early stages. In order to keep it from occurring, make sure you are brushing twice and flossing at least once a day, getting regular dental cleanings, avoiding tobacco products, and using a therapeutic mouthwash with the ADA seal of acceptance.

Many People Do Not Go to The Dentist

Even though regular cleanings and checkups are essential for optimal oral care, many people still don’t see their dentist very often. 17% of children and 38% of adults haven’t seen a dentist in the past year. Just imagine how many untreated dental issues this is causing. For most people, it is recommended that you see your dentist every six months. So, give them a call to get you and your family on track to protect your oral health if you aren’t already.

Approximately 45 Million Adults Don’t Have Health Insurance Coverage

Cost is the main reason why adults don’t go to the dentist regularly or when they have an oral health problem. The thought of getting a huge bill at the end is enough to repel plenty of people from getting essential dental care. Fortunately, even if you are uninsured, you have other options. Your friendly dental team can help you arrange financing that breaks down the overall cost of treatment into monthly chunks. Often times, this includes little to no interest. No one should avoid dental care because of fear of costs. If you leave oral health issues unchecked, you may require most costly treatments later on.

Nearly 1/5 of Children Have Untreated Cavities

About 18% of children between the ages of 5 and 19 have cavities in their mouth that need to be treated. If they are left on their own, they will progress. Eventually, more invasive treatments, like a root canal or extraction, may be required. By brushing twice and flossing daily, as well as seeing a dentist regularly, this type of issue can be prevented and treated early on.

This Halloween, you don’t want your or your kids to become part of these scary statistics. Remember to keep the smiles of your family in mind before setting out too many sugary treats and schedule your regular checkups!

About the Author

Dr. Jamie Guthrie earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Oklahoma School of Dentistry and continues to pursue over 50 hours of continuing education annually in a wide variety of topics. She is currently a member of the American Dental Association, Oklahoma Dental Association, and the OMS of Southern Oklahoma Study Club. For more information on maintaining a healthy smile or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Guthrie, visit her website or call (580) 224-9600.

No Comments

No comments yet.

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

Request An Appointment
Download Our Forms
Like Us On Facebook
Read Our Reviews
RequestDownload Our FormsFacebookGoogle Plus