TEETH ORAL HEALTH

INTHE 1960s AND 70sA SERIES OF TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENTS FOR TOOTHPASTE DEPICTED DELIGHTED YOUNGSTERS RETURNINGFROM A VISIT TO THE DENTIET SHOUTING, "LOOK MOM! NO CAVITIES!'' NOT MANY AMERICANS CAN MAKE THAT BOAST, AT LEAST NOT FOR LONG.PERIODONTAL DISEASE AND DENTAL CARIES, THE TECHNICAL NAME FOR THE DECAY THAT PRODUCES CAVITIES,ARE TWO OF THE MOST PREVALENT CHRONIC DISEASES IN OUR SOCIETY.HARDLY AN AMERICAN EXISTS WHOSE MOUTH DOSE NOT TESTIFY TO THEIR RAVAGES AND THEIR REPAIR. A FEW FIGURES INDECATE THE SCOPE OF AMERICAN DENTAL PROBLEMS. IN A TYPICAL YEAR MORE THAN 100 MILLION OF US- ABOUT HALF THE U.S. POPULATION-PAY AT LEAST ONE VISIT TO THE DENTIST. THE TOTAL BILL FOR DENTAL CARE EXCEEDS 10$BILLION ANNUALLY. ONEAMERICAN IN FOUR OVER THE AGE 29 WEARS ONE COMPLETE UPPER OR LOWER DENTURE. HALF OF THE ADULT POPULATION HAS PERIODONTAL DISEASE. NINE OF TEN AMERICANS ARE VICTIMS OF TOOTH DECAY, AND THE AVERAGE SIX-YEAR OLD ALREADY HAS 3.7 DECAYED TEETH. NOT ALL THE CONSEQUENCES ARE SO EASILY MEASURED. UNTREATED DENTAL DISEASES AND DISORDERS CAN LEAD TO TOOTHACHE,TOOTH LOSS,IMPAIRMENT OF THE VICTIM'S GENERAL HEALTH, AND COSTLY REPLACEMENT SERVICE. THEY AFFECT OUR ENJOYMENT OF FOOD, THE KIND OF APPEARANCE WE PRESENT TO THE WORLD, AND HOW WE FEEL ABOUT OURSELVES.