Over the past several decades the average American is living longer and has better dental health. But we still have a long way to go – we can stop tooth loss from preventable conditions such as tooth decay and gum disease if we all work a little harder.

In 1960 the average 65 year old was already in the cemetary and had an average of only 7 teeth. Today the average 65 year old is very much alive, working out at the gym and has about 17 of their original teeth. If we go even further into the future, if someone who is 65 today lives to age 85 they will probably still have 24 of their original 32 teeth. Pretty good!

These numbers show us two things – educational efforts about the importance of good oral health care have reached a lot of people and more importantly, did you notice that the 85 year old would have more teeth than the average 65 year old today. Is the math wrong? It’s simple, good oral health translates to better overall health so therefore people with healthy smiles will live longer than those who lose a lot of teeth to gum disease and decay.

What can you do to make sure you join the ranks of the 85 year olds and keep as many of your original 32 as possible?

• Brush for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Floss all of your teeth every single day
• Visit the dentist for regular check-ups and professional dental cleanings

Will doing these things guarantee everyone a healthy smile? Unfortunately no – some people have other health problems that dentists need to work around. For example, diabetic patients have a much higher risk of developing gum disease and need cleanings more often. Some medications cause reduced saliva flow (dry mouth) which increases the risk for tooth decay and tooth loss. Eating disorders and drinking of acidic beverages can damage tooth enamel leading to cavities.

If any of these affect you then you need to be  especially diligent about your home care and make sure you share all medical information with your dentist. We can work together to protect your smile. Please contact Dr. Mark Levy in Gahanna, OH today at 614-476-6696 to schedule your next visit. We’ll help keep you smiling for many years to come.