Preventive Care and Oral Hygiene: Everything You Need To Know

rnA good smile can be very contagious and can make both giver and receiver feel a whole lot better. A smile is usually more effective when it comes from someone who is confident. And when you are sure that you maintain a decent level of oral hygiene, you can brighten someone else's day with that warm and confident smile of yours.rnWe bet there are still some things you haven't yet known about your teeth, and we have compiled some oral health statistics and facts from credible and reliable sources. Let's keep on reading to grow our knowledge on oral health. Oral Health Facts in the US Americans have spent 129 billion USD on dental care. 83% of Americans rate their oral health as more important than exercise, diet and their mental health. 95% American adults agree that keeping the mouth clean and healthy is important. 93% of people say that regular visits to the dentist can help maintain good oral health. 87% of Americans agree that poor oral health can have a negative impact on people's lives. 30% of adults are worried they have bad breath.rnPeople spend an average of 1 minute 52 seconds brushing their teeth. 70% brush their teeth twice daily. 23% of people in the US confessed that they have missed two or more days of brushing.rnA third of Americans floss every day, one third practice occasional flossing while the last third don't bother to floss at all. 20% of folks floss only when there is something stuck between their teeth. 16% of American adults say they floss at least once in a day. 44% of Americans confess to lying about their flossing habits to their dentists. Most people say that the major reason why they don't floss is because it is time consuming. rnOral Health Facts by Agern64% of adults between the ages of 18 and 64 visit their dentist. 63% of adults aged 65 years and older visit their dentist. 37% of American young adults between ages 18-24 admit that they have ever skipped two or more days of brushing.rn96% of senior citizens (ages 65 and above) have experienced tooth cavities. 25% of adults are currently living with untreated tooth decay. Two-thirds of older adults have gum disease, while 20% of older adults have lost all their teeth.rn1 in 7 teens from ages 12-19 have tooth cavity. 20% of kids have tooth cavity. 2 out of every 5 children experience tooth decay before they reach kindergarten. 80% of cavities can be prevented in kids' teeth by using dental sealants on their teeth.rnDental Diseases facts in the United StatesrnThere are about 65 million American adults living with some form of gum disease. Of the whole population of Americans who have gum disease, 56.4% are men while 38.4% are women. Of all the adults with gum disease, 7.8% have a severe form of it. The older you get as an adult, the more the chances of your having gum disease increase. Half of adults over 30 years have gum disease. 70% of older adults from 65 years and up have gum disease.rnThere are about 30,000 Americans diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer. 2016 had the highest recorded number of deaths as a result of oral cancer - there were 10,170.rn9 out of 10 bad breath cases are associated with infections, gum disease and tongue coating.rnHow Americans used Dental Supplies in 2019rn137.59 million Americans used regular toothpaste while 66.11 million used gel toothpaste. Fluoride based toothpastes were the highest selling forms of toothpaste in America - 95 out of every 100 toothpaste sales. 38% of folks preferred to purchase natural or organic toothpastes. 72.6 million people said they used toothpaste 4 times daily.rn118.6 million folks used medium bristled toothbrushes. 209.54 million Americans used manual toothbrushes. 26.26 million adults used a manual toothbrush at least 5 times in a day. 4.5 million people used a power toothbrush at least 5 times.rn201.08 million people used mouthwash. 18.04 million American adults said they used mouthwash at least 14 times every week.rn13.58 million folks used floss at least 8 times weekly. Americans spent 30.07 million USD on brand name dental floss.rn16.07 million Americans used a denture cleaner 8 or more times weekly. rnDental Health ProfessionalsrnIn 2019, there were over 150,000 dental hygienists registered in the US. 98% of those registered were female. Dental hygienists are required to spend 2,000 hours studying in an approved dental hygiene program and 600 hours of practicum in a hands-on clinical setting.rnIn 2019, there were 200,419 licensed dentists in the US. 67.6% of those licensed dentists were male. Dentists are required to first spend 4 years for a bachelor's degree or some other undergraduate schooling followed by another 4 years studying at an accredited dental school. Dentists who want to specialize usually spend an additional 2-6 years of training and residency. Only 20% of dentists are specialists.rnFacts about Accessing Dental Health Professionals in AmericarnIn 2019, over 53 million folks lived in places that were short of dentists and dental health hygienists which significantly lowered the chances of them receiving the needed dental care.rn40.2% of people cite cost as the leading reason people don't visit dentists. 32.7% of Americans believe they don't need to see a dentist. 14.1% don't make plans to visit a dentist because they don't have the time.rnThe region with the lowest supply of dentists is the Southeast of the United States with only about 40-50 dentists per 100,000 residents. With at least 103 dentists per 100,000 residents, Washington DC has the highest number of dentists. Oral Fun Facts Did you know? Everyone's tongue print is different just like fingerprints. Tooth prints are also as unique as fingerprints. You'll likely spend a total of 38.5 days brushing your teeth in a lifetime. You'll produce about 5,300 gallons of saliva throughout your life. The strongest material in your body is tooth enamel.rn61% of folks clean between their teeth with their fingernails. 40% Americans use folded paper or cards to floss their teeth. 21% of adults use cutlery like forks to clean between their teeth. 21% use hair strands or safety pins as floss. Of all these people who admitted to flossing their teeth in creative ways, 63% of them knew it was dangerous.rn75% of Americans don't regularly change their toothbrushes. There are about 10 - 12 teaspoons of sugar in a single soda can. People who drink 3 or more glasses of soda devery day are much more prone to tooth decay, tooth loss and fillings than others by 62%. Chewing sugar-free gum for about 20 minutes after every meal can prevent tooth ecay.rnIn a day, the average woman smiles about 62 times while the average man smiles 8 times.