If you are between the ages of 21-34 you may want to pay
attention. However all of you may find this interesting so please continue. The
American Dental Association has recently released a research paper stating that
the number of emergency room visits have nearly doubled in the United States in
a 10-year period, due to dental problems. According to The ADA, the number of
visits related to problems with teeth grew from 1.1 million in 2000 to 2.1
million in 2010. In regards to all ER visits, dental-related visits grew from
1.06 percent to 1.65 percent during that time period, according to statistics
obtained from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.
So why is this happening? Unfortunately young adults ages 21 to 34 are accounting for
the increase in ER visits, probably because many don't have dental insurance, the
research paper concluded. However let's explore a different situation. Most
people ages 21-34 drive their own car and are well aware of necessary oil
changes. If your car is ignored, you
will know that serious damages to your car can happen in the long run. A new
engine perhaps? Wow, that's very expensive by the way, so we hope you maintain
that as well. This analogy is similar to your oral health, regular cleanings
and exams will keep the oral cavity in great health.
Your oral health says so much about you. It says hello when
you smile and greet people. The human eye say it's under surveillance and you breathe
on people when talking, so you may want a fresh odor in your mouth or at least
not an unpleasant one.
...................................................................................................................................................
Let's Talk About Solutions Shall We? Preventative thinking,
regular checkups, asking dental
questions and requesting a payment option (Care Credit, etc) are just to name a
few. However, let's go through a few specific ways on how ages 21-34 year olds can
decrease their chances of emergency dental visits.
-Where There's a Will, There's a Pay! - swap the extra
shopping for dental work, stop the lattes for a month in exchange for a
cleaning, you know yourself better than anyone else. Find a way to cut corners
if you are in a financial bind. You can
do it and it's also a great way to organize or swap your overall spending,
which is a useful tool to utilize daily.
-Better Diet - stay away from sugary and starchy foods.
Have foods like nuts, high fiber fruits and vegetables and drink lots of water.
Sugary foods and beverages attack the enamel on your teeth and can lead to
cavities, but fiber foods have a detergent effect in your mouth (according to
The ADA). Foods with fiber also stimulate saliva flow, which naturally defends
cavities. Choices like these are not only beneficial for your oral health, but
your overall health as well.
-Mouth Guard- chances are that in this economy your stress
levels may be up which leads to teeth grinding, which can lead to chipped teeth. When boxers fight, they wear a mouth guard
and although you may not get hit with a glove when sleeping, you may get hit
with the stresses of life......so why not protect them? Asking your dentist the
right questions will help you take preventative measures. For example, do my
teeth shift with age? The answer is yes! So not only will a mouth guard protect
you teeth grinders, it will also make sure your teeth stay in place. Spending
some money on a mouth guard is also a lot cheaper than braces!
-Don't Delay- the longer you wait to see your dentist, the
greater your chance is of having more dental problems. More problems equal more
necessary dental work, which of course may lead to a greater bill. So why not
visit the dentist at least 2 times per year? Keep your mouth healthy and avoid
any serious dental health problems. You will feel healthy, clean and assured.
To everyone and especially you 21-34 year olds,
we wish you and your mouth a healthy future!
