The Oral Health/Overall Health Connection

Oral Health America and friends at 1-800-DENTIST® are teaming up on a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign encouraging Americans to make the connection between a healthy mouth and a healthy body, and to ask care providers about that connection. Medical research shows that infections or bacteria in the mouth impact overall health, and systemic diseases affect gums and teeth.

Caries, the disease that causes cavities or tooth decay, is a transmissible infection that can be managed through proper oral hygiene (brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day and flossing), access to appropriate levels of fluoride in drinking water, a carbohydrate-regulated diet, proper salivary function, and regular dental visits. Dental sealants, a thin plastic coating that placed over the chewing surfaces of molar teeth, are also effective in preventing and even reversing tooth decay. Dental sealants are most commonly used on children, especially at the ages when new permanent teeth erupt (approximately 2nd and 6th grade).

Periodontal disease, a disease of the gums that afflicts more than 30% of the adult population, is often underdiagnosed and undertreated, despite mounting evidence of its relationship to systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and pre-term, low-birth weight babies. Oral Health America and 1-800-DENTIST® are collaborating on the campaign to urge people to ask their dentists, dental hygienists, and health care providers about periodontal disease and how it can affect overall health.

The PSAs are airing throughout the country in prime media markets, and feature dentistry leader Gordon J. Christensen, DDS, MSD, PhD and Fred Joyal, CEO and Co-Founder of 1-800-DENTIST®.

1-800-DENTIST®, the nation’s leading free resource for people in search of a dentist, has matched over five million Americans with dentists since 1986. The company’s fundamental mission has been to inform and educate the public about modern dentistry and the importance of making regular dental office visits. For more information, visit www.1800dentist.com.

Also visit :

Oral Health America’s National Periodontal Disease Coalition

The Mayo Clinic's Oral Health: A window to your overall health web article 2/7/07

Oral Health America is the nation's premier, independent advocacy organization dedicated to improving oral health for all Americans