National oral health ad campaign to encourage brushing “2min2x”

An unhealthy mouth can be linked to obesity, diabetes and heart disease.  It also can impact a child’s ability to learn develop self-esteem and speak properly.  Compounding these problems, more than 16 million children suffer from untreated tooth decay. 

These are just a few of the reason a three-year national advertising campaign on the importance of good oral health is kicking off during the week of August 6^th.  The campaign is a collaborative effort among the nationally recognized Ad Council, New York-based Grey Advertising and the Partnership for Healthy Mouth, Healthy Lives dental coalition.  CDA is a participating member of the coalition, which is made up of 40 dental groups led by the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation.

A survey with teeth

Most of us have no idea what we're talking about when it comes to dental habits and oral health

The ADA released the survey results alongside the launch of mouthhealthy.org, which aims to bring oral health enlightenment to the masses — from what to do when you crack a tooth to what foods to eat when you have canker sores. You can take a modified version of the quiz on the site.

Vigilance about the state of your mouth and small habit changes can go a long way toward preventing tooth decay and catching a problem before it becomes more costly, Cooper said.

Nine out of 10 adults ages 20 to 64 have had cavities in their permanent teeth, and dental disease is the most common chronic disease suffered by children, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Twenty-four percent of adults have untreated cavities in their mouths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among children ages 6 to 19, it's 16 percent.

Here are some common misconceptions people have about their teeth, according to the ADA's survey of 1,500 adults, which was conducted in May.

Survey says: 90 percent of respondents believe they should brush after every meal.

ADA says: Brush only twice a day.

Survey says: 65 percent of respondents believe they should replace their toothbrush twice a year.

ADA says: Replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles become frayed.

Survey says: 75 percent of respondents don't know what age to take their child to the dentist for the first time.

ADA says: A child's first trip to the dentist should be within six months after the first tooth appears or no later than the child's first birthday.

Survey says: 81 percent of respondents think that sugar causes cavities.

ADA says: Cavities are caused by germs in the mouth that feed on sugar and then produce acid which attacks tooth enamel. In time, the acid attacks weaken the enamel to the point where a cavity forms.

Survey says: 59 percent of respondents don't realize cavity-causing germs can be passed from person to person.

ADA says: Yes, they can. Parents and caregivers can pass bacteria that cause cavities to their children by pre-chewing food, sharing utensils or licking a pacifier to clean it.

Survey says: 53 percent of respondents think you should floss twice a week.

ADA says: Floss once a day. Tooth brushing doesn't clean between the teeth so germs can grow there and cause tooth decay and gum disease.

July 11, 2012|By Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz, Tribune Newspapers

Dental Signs May Indicate your Overall Health

Regular dental exams not only help decrease your risk of oral diseases, such as cavities and gum (periodontal) disease, but may also help to diagnose other, sometimes life-threatening, medical conditions. Your dentist is an important part of your healthcare team. Dentists are able to assess your overall oral health and may recognize symptoms of serious diseases, including diabetes and cancer, which often manifest as signs and symptoms inside your mouth. There are many diseases with oral manifestations that, in many cases, may first present in the mouth.

Diabetes

More than 25 million people in the United States suffer from diabetes. Diabetes is associated with high levels of blood sugar and is known to lower resistance to infection and increase the chance of the following:

·          Gum disease, including gums that bleed easily or are tender and swollen

·          Tooth decay

·          Taste impairment

·          Inflammatory skin disease

·          Persistent bad breath

·          Changes in teeth position 

Additionally, patients with diabetes (especially those with dentures) are more likely to experience oral fungal infections, including thrush and oral candidiasis.

Oral Cancer

During your regularly scheduled dental check up, your dentist will also search for signs of oral cancer. Oral indicators of cancer include:

·          Sores that bleed easily or do not heal

·          Crusted, rough areas of the skin

·          Lumps or thick hard spots

·          Red, brown, or white patches

·          Changes in the lymph nodes or other tissues around the mouth and neck

·          Tenderness or pain, numbness inside the mouth

·          Changes in the way the teeth fit together

While dentists check all patients for these signs and symptoms, patients with a history of smoking, using smokeless tobacco, or drinking heavily are at an increased risk for developing oral cancer.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, physically damage both your oral and overall health. These disorders, which include patterns of insufficient or excessive food intake, can rob the body of much needed vitamins and minerals. These vitamin and mineral deficiencies can present themselves orally. Without proper nutrition, the gums can lose their healthy pink color and become increasingly soft and tender, bleeding easily. Additionally, disorders that involve excessive vomiting, such as bulimia, can cause discoloration and erosion of the teeth through constant contact with stomach acid. Those with eating disorders may also experience:

·          Swollen salivary glands

·          Dry mouth

·          Thin, sensitive teeth

·          Loss of tooth enamel

Alcohol Use Disorders

Alcohol use disorders affect more than 17 million adults in the United States alone. In addition to causing irreparable social and medical problems, alcohol use disorders can severely impact your oral health. Dentists treating patients with alcohol abuse problems may observe the following signs and symptoms:

·          Tooth decay

·          Tooth erosion

·          Moderate to severe gingivitis (gum disease)

·          Gum irregularities

·          Poor dental hygiene

 

Be proactive about your Oral Health

Diseases that negatively impact your general health can also damage your teeth, gums, and mouth. Regularly scheduled dental exams allow dentists to detect or monitor these diseases. Patients should inform their dentists about all medical conditions they have or medicines they are taking, which may affect their oral health. Remember, maintaining a healthy body includes taking care of your oral health.

Source: Academy of General Dentistry

Aspirin May Lower Lung Cancer Risk Among Women

Women who took aspirin at least a couple of times a week had a much lower risk of developing lung cancer, whether or not they ever smoked, according to a study of more than a thousand Asian women.

The findings, published in the journal Lung Cancer, linked regularly taking aspirin to a risk reduction of 50 percent or more, although researchers cautioned that they did not prove aspirin directly protects against lung cancer.

But the study does back up a number of previous studies that linked regular aspirin use to lower risks of certain cancers, including colon, prostate and esophageal cancers.

click on link for full article 
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/24/us-cancer-aspirin-idUSBRE83N01T20120424