Think Prevention
Why is Oral Care Important?
By having consistent oral care (brushing, flossing, and regular dental appointments) individuals are able to avoid complications such as cavities, tooth loss, and gum disease. Many of these problems are often overlooked and progress further eventually causing a dental emergency. By taking preventative care, one can prevent emergency dental situations from occurring that can be very costly and time-consuming to the individual.
Lack of oral care doesn’t just cause cavities and gum disease, it can also cause higher level damage to the rest of the body. Research has found that oral care has a direct link to several other diseases/complications throughout the body. This is due to gum disease which can progress into later stages called periodontal disease that cause bone and tooth loss. Studies show that the bacteria in gum disease are able to affect various parts of the body, not just the mouth. Preventative care is the key to having both a healthy mouth and bod
How Much Does Emergency Care Cost?
On average, Americans are spending an average of $749 on emergency hospital visits due to dental problems. The cost is much higher for seniors 65+ at an aver hospital visits age of $1,350 per visit.¹⁴
What Types of Diseases are Involved with Poor Oral Care?
Diabetes- Pneumonia
- Heart Attacks
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Dementia
Emergency Care Cost* vs Preventative Care Cost
*average cost for adults ages 65 and old
Approximately 70.1% of adults in the United States ages 65+ have periodontal disease⁶
Those who are 65+ years old must take regular precautions in their oral care routines. Periodontal disease is the main cause of tooth and bone loss but can also cause complications throughout the body.
Diabetes
Advanced gum disease can increase insulin levels, making it harder for diabetics to control their diabetes.³
Pneumonia
- Bacteria from gum disease can be inhaled causing aspiration pneumonia.¹¹⁰
- Complications from pneumonia include the following: ⁴
- respiratory failure sepsis (widespread inflammation of the body), which can lead to organ failure
Heart Attack/Stroke
- Individuals with gum disease have nearly a 50% increase risk for having a heart attack.⁵
- Those with periodontal disease can have up to 4 times higher risk of having a stroke.⁹
Cancer
Studies show that patients with severe periodontal disease have a24% increase risk of cancer. ⁸¹³
Dementia
- New study shows that gum disease increases risk of developing dementia. ⁷¹¹
- Bacteria found in gum disease have been found in excess amount sin patients’ brains with dementia.
What can be done?
Brushing and Flossing
Brushing at least twice a day for two minutes is a great way of preventing plaque buildup in the teeth which in turn prevents gum disease. Individuals should floss at least once a day to remove plaque around the gum line that causes gum infections.
Regular Dental Appointments
Individuals should visit their local dentist at least twice a year(every 6 months). Regular dental cleanings and examinations can prevent gum disease and tooth loss but also aid in the diagnosis of oral cancer.
- American Academy of Periodontology. (2011, January 18). Healthy Gums May Lead to Healthy Lungs. Retrieved from https://www.perio.org/consumer/healthy-lungs
- American Acadamy of Periodontology. (2012). [Half of Americans Suffer from Periodontal Disease]. Retrieved from https://www.perio.org/consumer/cdc-study.htm#OverlayWrapper/0/
- American Diabetes Association. (2012). Diabetes and Oral Health Problems. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/oral-health-and-hygiene/diabetes-and-oral-health.html
- American Lung Association. (2018, April 2). Diagnosing and Treating Pneumonia. Retrieved from https://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/diagnosing-and-treating.html
- CardioSmart. (2016, January 28). Gum Disease Linked to Increased Risk for Heart Attack. Retrieved from https://www.cardiosmart.org/News-and-Events/2016/01/Gum-Disease-Linked-to-Increased-Risk-for-Heart-Attack
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015, March 10). Periodontal Disease. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/periodontal_disease/index.htm
- Dominy, S. S., Lynch, C., Ermini, F., Benedyk, M., Marczyk, A., Konradi, A., . . Potempa, J. (2019). Porphyromonas gingivalis in Alzheimer’s disease brains: Evidence for disease causation and treatment with small-molecule inhibitors. Science Advances,5(1). doi:10.1126/sciadv.aau3333
- Gum Disease-Cancer Link. (2018). Consumer Reports on Health, 30(5), 3. Retrieved from http://libproxy.nau.edu/
- Grau, A. J., Becher, H., Ziegler, C. M., Lichy, C., Buggle, F., Kaiser, C., . . . Dörfer, C. E. (2004). Periodontal Disease as a Risk Factor for Ischemic Stroke. Stroke,35(2), 496-501. doi:10.1161/01.str.0000110789.20526.9d
- Humphreys, K. (2016). Oral health of older people living in the community. British Journal of Community Nursing, 21(7), 332–334. https://doi-org.libproxy.nau.edu/10.12968/bjcn.2016.21.7.332
- MacKenzie, D. (2019, January 23). We may finally know what causes Alzheimer’s – and how to stop it. Retrieved from https://www.newscientist.com/article/2191814-we-may-finally-know-what-causes-alzheimers-and-how-to-stop-it/
- Ok Copay. (2017). Dental Exam Costs in the USA. Retrieved from http://www.okcopay.com/map/dental-exam-cost
- Printz, C. (2018), More evidence that gum disease increases cancer risk. Cancer, 124: 2270-2271. doi:10.1002/cncr.31548
- Wall, T., & Vujicic, M. (2015, April). Emergency Department Use for Dental Conditions Continues to Increase. Retrieved from http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Science and Research/HPI/Files/HPIBrief_0415_2.ashx
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