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Oral Health
Oral diseases ranging from dental caries (cavities) to oral cancers cause pain and disability for millions of Americans. The impact of these diseases does not stop at the mouth and teeth. A growing body of evidence has linked oral health, particularly periodontal (gum) disease, to several chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. In pregnant women, poor oral health has also been associated with premature births and low birth weight.1, 2, 3, 4, 5 These conditions may be prevented in part with regular visits to the dentist. In 2007, however, only 44.5% (age adjusted) of people age 2 and older had a dental visit in the past 12 months, a rate that has remained essentially unchanged over the past decade.
The Oral Health Leading Health Indicator is:
Health Impact of Oral Health
Oral health is an essential part of staying healthy. Good oral health allows a person to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew, swallow, and make facial expressions to show feelings and emotions.6, 7 Poor oral health has serious consequences, including painful, disabling, and costly oral diseases. Millions of Americans are living with one or more oral diseases, including:
Dental caries (cavities)
Periodontal (gum) disease
Cleft lip and palate
Oral and facial pain
Oral and pharyngeal (mouth and throat) cancers
Gum disease, in particular, is associated with diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. In pregnant women, gum disease is also associated with premature births and low birth weight.6, 7
Many of these oral diseases may be prevented with regular dental care.
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Oral Health Across the Life Stages
Poor oral health affects Americans at all life stages, from infancy through older adulthood. For example:
Children and Adolescents
Tooth decay affects more than 1 in 4 U.S. children age 2 to 5.
Tooth decay affects 1 in 2 U.S. adolescents age 12 to 15.
Adults
1 in 7 adults age 35 to 44 has gum disease; after age 65, the rate increases to 1 in 4.
Older Adults
1 in 4 U.S. adults age 65 or older have lost all of their teeth.
More than 7,800 people, mostly older Americans, die from oral and pharyngeal (mouth and throat) cancers each year.8
Determinants of Oral Health
The ability to access oral health care is associated with gender, age, education level, income, race and ethnicity, access to medical insurance, and geographic location. Addressing these determinants is key in reducing health disparities and improving the health of all Americans. Efforts are needed to overcome barriers to access to oral health care caused by geographic isolation, poverty, insufficient education, and lack of communication skills.
Disparities and Oral Health
Some populations are less likely than others to access oral health care. As a result, health disparities exist.
In 2008, a greater proportion of white non-Hispanic people age 2 and older (48.6%, age adjusted) had gone to the dentist in the last 12 months than any other race or ethnic group.
In 2008, people in families with higher incomes were more likely to visit the dentist than people in families with lower incomes.
In 2008, a greater proportion of females (46.5%, age adjusted) went to the dentist than males (39.3%, age adjusted).
In 2008, a greater proportion of people who have attended at least some college (57.4%, age adjusted) went to the dentist than people who have graduated high school (38.2%, age adjusted) or have less than a high school education (18.5%, age adjusted).
In 2008, a greater proportion of people without disabilities (44.3%, age adjusted) went to the dentist than people with disabilities (38.0%, age adjusted).
In 2007, a greater proportion of people age 64 and younger with private medical insurance (52.2%, age adjusted) went to the dentist than people with public insurance (31.1%, age adjusted) and people with no insurance (22.6%, age adjusted).
In 2007, a greater proportion of people living in metropolitan areas (cities and suburbs) (45.3%, age adjusted) went to the dentist than people living in rural areas (41.8%, age adjusted).
About the Disparities Data
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References
1 Bensley L, VanEenwyk J, Ossiander EM. Associations of self-reported periodontal disease with metabolic syndrome and number of self-reported chronic conditions. Prev Chronic Dis . 2011;8(3):A50. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2011/may/10_0087.htm
2 J Am Dent Assoc . 2006;137(suppl 2). Available from http://jada.ada.org/content/137/suppl_2.toc
3 Barnett ML. The oral-systemic disease connection. J Am Dent Assoc . 2006;137(suppl 2):5S–6S. Available from http://jada.ada.org/content/137/suppl_2/5S.full
4 Division of Oral Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public Health Implications of Chronic Periodontal Infections in Adults . Atlanta, GA: 2005. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/OralHealth/publications/library/conferences/periodontal_infections_trnscript1.htm
5 Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General . Washington, DC: 2000. Available from http://www2.nidcr.nih.gov/sgr/sgrohweb/chap5.htm#pregnancy
6 Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General . Washington, DC: 2000. pp.33–59. Available from http://www2.nidcr.nih.gov/sgr/sgrohweb/home.htm
7 Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General . Washington, DC: 2000. pp.155–188. Available from http://www2.nidcr.nih.gov/sgr/sgrohweb/home.htm
8 National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Cavities, Gum Disease, Tooth Loss, and Oral Cancers: At a Glance 2011 . Atlanta, GA: 2011. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/aag/doh.htm
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