Toothbrushes Saving Lives.........

Toothbrushes Trump Seat Belts

Yes, you read this correctly.  As important as seat belts are as a preventive measure, toothbrushes have a far greater impact on the health and longevity of the American public.  According to the National Highway and Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts save about 13,000 lives a year, nationwide.  That is no small number:  more than 1,000 Americans each month owe their lives to the 5 seconds it took them to "buckle up".  NHTSA points out that seat-belts reduce a person's chances of dying in a crash by 45% and being injured by 50%.  However seat belts probably will not play a role in saving your life, because chances are you will not be in a serious car crash, most Americans never are.

On the other hand, most Americans have gum disease.  Estimates are that up to 80% of American adults suffer either from gingivitis or periodontal disease.  The most common cause of tooth loss among adults is periodontal disease.  What you may not know is that tooth loss is one of the least important consequences of periodontal disease.  Periodontal disease is a significant risk factor for heart attack, stroke, low-birth-weight infants, and some forms of cancer.  While very few of you will die from a car crash, many of you will die from a heart attack or cancer.  And, believe it or not, using a toothbrush and eliminating periodontal disease reduces the chances of dying from either of these causes.

Dr. Caroline Wallace DDS

Complete Dental Care

103 South Colorado Street

Salem, Virginia , 24153

540-387 - 3844

Pediatric Dental Disease and the Domino Effect

First Tooth Pain, Then School Absence, Then Lower Grades, Then Parental Concern, Then Lost Work Days . . .

Poor oral health, dental disease, and tooth pain can put children at a serious disadvantage in school.  Researchers had previously documented that 73% of disadvantaged children in Los Angeles have cavities.  This study illuminates the specific connection between oral health and performance in school for this population.  Children who reported having recent tooth pain were 4 times more likely to have a low grade point average (GPA)--below the median GPA of 2.8--when compared to children without oral pain.  Poor oral health doesn't just appear to be connected to lower grades.  Dental problems also seem to cause more absences from school for children and more missed work for parents.
On average, elementary children missed a total of 6 days per year, and high school children missed 2.6 days.  For elementary students, 2.1 days of missed school were due to dental problems, and high school students missed 2.3 days due to dental issues.  In addition, parents missed an average of 2.5 days of work per year to care for children with dental problems.
A factor determining whether children miss school due to dental health issues was the accessibility of dental care.  11% of children who had limited access to dental care--whether due to lack of insurance, lack of transportation or other barriers--missed school due to their poor oral health as opposed to only 4% who had easier access to dental care.
The date indicated there is an impact on students' academic performance due to dental problems. 

Info from Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, "American Journal fo Public Health"-The Impact of Oral Health on teh Academic Performance of Disadvantaged Children, Dr. Roseann Mulligan.

Dr. Caroline Wallace DDS
Complete Dental Care
103 South Colorado Street
Salem, Virginia, 24153
54-387-3844