Negative Outcomes of Poor Dental Hygiene

Did you know that the average American spends 38.5 days total brushing their teeth over a lifetime? By the age of seventeen 78% of Americans have had at least one cavity. When an individual does not go to the dentist it affects the results of your teeth versus if you do clean them. Dental health is caring for your mouth which includes your teeth, gums and tongue. Eating nutritious foods and avoiding smoking can help to keep your gums and mouth healthy. Brushing and flossing gets rid of plaque, which is the main cause of tooth decay and gum disease. Poor dental hygiene from a young age can cause serious health issues and lead to expensive dental procedures. Dental care from a young age is very important. When you start taking proper care of your teeth and begin getting regular dental checkups your mouth will stay healthier throughout your adolescent and adult life. This helps to prevent tooth decay and cavities in your baby teeth. Americans spend more on dental care than citizens in any other country. In the years between 1960 and 2007, the rise of the nations spending on health care climbed from around $28 billion to reaching $2.2 trillion.Negative Outcomes of Poor Dental Hygiene

According to the book Coverage and Cost it states “In 2006 the United States alone spends more money on health care than any other country with $6,714 being spent per person” this shows us just how outrageous it has become. If parents started taking care of their kids’ teeth by brushing them once the teeth formed this would be preventable. It is important that you start going to the dentist as early as possible to maintain healthy teeth at a low cost. Dental care costs are much lower for children than adults. According to the website article Dental Care Expenditures and Insurance it states “The adult population, which includes ages 19 through 64 spent an average of $54.29 per person per year on dental services. For the ages under 19 years old the average dental cost is less than it is for adults. There is a larger amount of health expenditures for adolescents and children that is around 12 percent. In the age group of 65 years and older the dental care expenditures represent about 2.5 percent of all private health care expenditures for this group”. There are more health problems for adolescents because adults tend to eat and drink more things that can harm your teeth such as bread and drink sodas that are very bad on your teeth. This is important to know if you want proper dental health so you don’t grow old and start losing teeth from decay.Negative Outcomes of Poor Dental Hygiene