Citation

Ostreicher DS. Dent. Today 2012; 31(9): 56-59.

Affiliation

Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery, USA. drdavid@optonline.net

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Dentistry Today)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

23019848

Abstract

Yes, you read the title 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 Traffic 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 seatbelts 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.1 You have probably told your patients that the most common cause of tooth loss among adults is periodontal disease. What you probably haven’t told them 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-birthweight infants, and some forms of cancer. While very few of your patients will die from a car crash, many of them 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.

Language: en