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Take care of
your teeth and they’ll take care of you
We know the importance of watching
what we eat and exercising regularly. But how many of us
know the importance of flossing daily or brushing at least
twice a day? Taking care of your teeth and gums is an
important part of a daily health care regimen. Did you
know:
• At birth, a baby has formed 20
teeth, which will begin showing up around 6 months of age.
To help protect against cavities in infants, expectant
mothers should make sure to take vitamin B-6 supplements
and get plenty of vitamin D.
• Twenty percent of all 3-year-olds
have tooth decay, which can flourish in the mouth as early
as age one.
• Tooth decay is the number one
chronic illness among children.
•51 million school hours will be lost
this year due to dental problems.
• If a child's tooth decay goes
untreated, it can lead to tooth loss, eating problems,
difficulty sleeping and paying attention in school, speech
problems and loss of self-esteem.
• Periodontal (gum) disease has been
linked to heart disease, strokes and respiratory disease
in medical studies—and 80/6 of Americans have it,
• The bacteria present in gum disease
may trigger blood clots, which can contribute to a heart
attack or stroke.
• Women with gum disease are seven
times more likely to have a baby born too early and too
small.
• Gum disease may worsen
osteoporosis.
• Two studies released in 2005 found that C-reactive
protein
(CRP) may play just as big a role in heart health as
cholesterol. The higher your CRP level, the greater your
risk for developing heart disease. Do you know
one of
the culprits that raise CRP levels? It's gum disease.
• Tooth
loss puts you at greater risk for cardiovascular
disease. Medical studies have found adults who have lost
five or more teeth consume easier-to-chew foods
with
more cholesterol and saturated fat.
• Oral cancer occurs most often
in those 40 and
older. Early detection is critical; when detected late,
the five-year
survival rate is only 50 percent.
• Oral
cancer among women has doubled over the past 45 years,
likely due to an increase in smoking. |
