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Dental Health Insurance Can Stop Pains In Mouth and Wallet

May 16, 2008

Other mouth and throat diseases, which range from cavities to cancer, cause pain and disability for millions of Americans each year and almost all oral diseases are largely preventable.

Dental care is affordable for most Americans! For children, cavities are a common problem that begins at an early age. Tooth decay affects more than one-fourth of U.S. children aged 2-5 and half of those aged 12-15. Low-income children are hardest hit: about two-thirds of those aged 12-19 have some form of tooth decay.

There are a number of consequences that come from untreated dental problems. Cavities indisputably cause pain, difficulty eating, and problems with digestion. These problems cause absence from school, and poor appearance which directly affect a child’s quality of life.

Adults also suffer. Especially for an increasing number of older adults who have retained most of their teeth. Despite this increase in tooth retention, tooth loss remains a problem among older adults. One-fourth of adults over age 65 have lost all of their teeth-primarily because of tooth decay, which affects more than 90% of adults over age 40, and advanced gum disease, which affects 5%-11% of adults. Tooth loss can affect self-esteem, and it may contribute to nutrition problems by limiting the types of food that a person can eat.

In addition, oral cancers pose a threat to the health of U.S. adults. In 2008, an estimated 34,000 people will learn that they have mouth or throat cancer, and more than 7,550 will die of these diseases.

In 2007, Americans made about 500 million visits to dentists, spending an estimated $98.6 billion on dental services. However the sad truth is both children and adults still go without dental treatments such as cleaning routine exams.

All dentists agree that it’s best to get children them started early. Here are a couple simple “common since” tips:

Start cleaning teeth early. When you see your child’s first tooth, it is time to start a tooth care plan. With a few more teeth come in, switch to a small, soft toothbrush. Begin using toothpaste. Check with your dentist to see if fluoride should be used.

By Matt Lockard

About the author

Matt Lockard - California Health Insurance agency offers health insurance plans for individuals, families, and children. Also available are California Medicare Supplement policies. Go to http://mattsinsurance4ca.com to get an instant health insurance quote.

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Written by Be Safe Insure · Filed Under Dental Insurance, Health 

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