Health Statistics Impacting the Workforce

• There is evidence to support that periodontal disease is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

• Periodontal disease is more common in people with diabetes. Heart disease and stroke account for about 65% of deaths in people with diabetes.

• Periodontal infections are linked to pre-term births

• Advanced periodontal disease is about four times more likely to occur in current smokers than in people who have never smoked.

• Oral cancer is more prevalent than cervical cancers, melanoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma

• 66% of Americans are overweight. Overweight and obesity are known risk factors for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and other breathing problems. Tooth loss, gum problems and jaw pain contribute to poor eating habits and consumption of high caloric and fatty foods lacking in nutrition.

• NIH statistics show that 25% of the population suffers from some form of headache problems with as much as 40% of chronic pain associated with orofacial pain of either tooth, jawbone, TMJ, sinus or facial muscle origin.

• Stress can induce jaw misalignment, bruxism, broken teeth, sleep disorders. The risk for heart attack and stroke is increased with people who have sleep apnea.

• Medications taken for non-dental problems can affect swallowing, speech and increase risk for decay due to dry mouth. Antidepressants can cause lack of saliva. Chemotherapy can cause changes in the lining of the mouth and production of saliva upsetting the healthy balance of bacteria leading to mouth sores, infections, and tooth decay.

Learn how you can reduce absenteeism, and healthcare utilization from the risks from dental disease by incorporating dental education into workplace wellness.

Provide your employees with a risk lowering dental benefit that won't cost you anything. Make "Take a Holistic Bite Out of Gum Disease- 60 Tips to Protect and Support Total Health" available to all your employees today!

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