What is Dental Health?

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Dental Health

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a quarter of people over the age of 60 have lost all of their teeth. Advanced gum disease affects up to 15 percent of adults, and an estimated 31,000 people were diagnosed with oral cancer in 2006. But the CDC also says “almost all oral diseases can be prevented.” This guide provides resources to help adults and children care for their teeth and mouth.

What is Dental Health?

Dental health means strong teeth and healthy gums. Research suggests that beyond eating and talking, the mouth’s health could affect the heart and other organs’ health, according to the Mayo Clinic. Not only could the mouth indicate problems in other parts of the body, but an unhealthy mouth could cause problems in the heart and other areas. Learn about the different parts of the mouth, and how it could be an indicator of your overall health.

Dulcinea's Insight

  • Clean, smooth teeth, gums that don’t bleed when brushed, and a mouth that doesn’t smell bad are a few components of a healthy mouth, according to Singapore’s Health Promotion Board.
  • The American Dental Association and Academy of General Dentistry are two sites that often appear in this guide, because they have extensive patient education resources.

Dulcinea's Picks

For the anatomy of the mouth …
Mayo Clinic has a slideshow that explains, with diagrams, the role of the tongue, teeth, gums and salivary glands.
go to site »
For a glossary of dental terms …
The Academy of General Dentistry defines a number of dental terms for reference during your research.
go to site »
To learn how oral health and the body’s health are connected …
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse explains why managing diabetes is so important for good dental health. Like other parts of the body, such as the eyes, heart and feet, diabetes can also affect the gums.
go to site »
Simple Steps To Better Dental Health , a Web site of Aetna Inc., has a series of articles that describe how the mouth’s health can affect the rest of the body, and vice versa. Pregnancy, heart disease, diabetes, sexually transmitted infections and diseases and some cancers can affect your mouth.
go to site »
To learn about orthodontics …
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a 2005 article about braces and why people may choose to have them. Straight teeth are easier to keep clean, which can prevent decay and more serious problems.
go to site »
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Caring for Your Teeth

Advice for keeping your teeth and mouth healthy is pretty standard: brush your teeth after meals, ... read more »

Dental Problems

The mouth is at risk for all sorts of problems, such as a cavities, dry mouth or more serious ... read more »

Finding a Dentist

A major component to having good dental health is regular visits to the dentist. This section has ... read more »

Dental News and Research

New discoveries into why teeth decay occurs and how to prevent it are announced all the time. ... read more »

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