FROM DENTAL ON CAMBRIDGE
There’s no doubt about it: the cost of living is high at the moment, and all the little things start to add up over time. Unfortunately, healthcare isn’t something we can put off for another time.
A dental exam and clean are one way to identify early problems to prevent larger problems in the future. Preventative options are always more cost-effective than treating major problems. This is true for all healthcare, like your annual skin check, prostate check, breast checks, blood tests, eye tests and good old six-monthly examination and clean at your dentist.
Interestingly, although many people know they’re ‘now overdue’ for their examination and clean, many don’t realise how important that routine appointment really is. A survey released last month from the Australian Dental Association¹ confirmed that two-thirds of Australian adults hadn’t been to see their dentist in the past two years, and a quarter had not been in more than five years. In 2022, it was the COVID pandemic, and now it’s the cost of living pressures. But your healthcare is too important to bump down the ‘to-do list’.
Unfortunately, untreated dental issues can have dire impacts on our overall health, and poor oral health has been linked to a range of wider health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and even adverse pregnancy outcomes. Many people don’t realise the link between poor oral health and its impact on overall wellbeing.
For example, individuals with gum disease or periodontitis (a condition where bacteria grows between the teeth and gums and destroys bone) are two to three times more at risk of experiencing a heart attack². Periodontal gum disease will often not cause any pain until it’s quite severe. When it develops and progresses, teeth eventually and often become loose, resulting in no other option than to remove the tooth or multiple teeth – which can drastically impact your quality of life.
Another common issue is tooth decay, with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare³ estimating that 32 per cent of Australian adults over 15 have untreated tooth decay. This is especially pertinent to Australians over 75, with over a quarter living with decayed teeth and over 20 per cent having lost their natural teeth due to preventable conditions.
The issue with dental problems is that your teeth will often remain silent and not cause any significant pain until it’s too late. Many dental issues are a slow burn, and if you don’t have regular checks you can develop poor oral health, and one day that may contribute to diabetes, cardiovascular disease or other health issues.
You only get one set of adult teeth to last your entire life, so it’s critical to maintain them and work in partnership with your dentist to plan for your future dental needs. Prevention is always better than cure, and always less expensive!
If you’ve been putting off seeing your dentist for too long now, remember it is always better late than NEVER – why not prioritise your oral healthcare this spring? With our team, every appointment is with an experienced dentist, even your routine ones – call to book on 3348 6661 or book online www.dentaloncambridge.com.
1 Australian Dental Association (2022), https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dental-oral-health/oral-health-and-dental-care-in-australia/contents/summary
2 Gum disease and heart disease: The common thread (2021), https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/gum-disease-and-heart-disease-the-common-thread
3 Oral Health and Dental Care in Australia (2022), https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dental-oral-health/oral-health-and-dental-care-in-australia/contents/summary
