National Dentist Day: Facts, Figures, and How to Celebrate It?

Dentist, dental surgeon, or tooth doctor are different names for a healthcare professional who deals with diseases related to teeth, gums, and mouth. Dental diseases are among the most common illnesses an individual can suffer, although most people are afraid of going to the dentist. Dentists’ contribution to society cannot be overlooked as they deal with the most painful condition, “toothache.” Determining how to prevent dental diseases is one of the dentists’ responsibilities as well. Since dentists have this major and significant role in the health department, a special day is devoted to them, and it is celebrated as national dentist day every year on March 6.

National Dentist Day: What Are the Quick Facts and Figures I Should Know?

• The American Dental Association reports that dental fear is one of the main reasons why 9.9% of American adults don’t plan to visit the dentist.
• Over the course of a lifetime, the average American spends 38.5 days brushing their teeth.
• Teeth are what make up a person’s smile. People often say that the first thing they notice about someone when they first meet them is their smile.
• A person’s teeth are as unique as their fingerprints! This is why bite marks can be used in forensic dentistry to identify the criminal.
• Maintaining good health requires maintaining good oral health. Speaking, smiling, tasting, touching, chewing, swallowing, and making facial expressions to express sentiments and emotions are all made possible by good dental health.
• Serious implications of poor oral health led to painful oral diseases.
• Millions of Americans suffer from one or more oral diseases, such as oral and facial pain, cavities, periodontal (gum) disease, cleft lip and palate, and oral and pharyngeal (mouth and throat) cancer.
• The lesser-known fact is that gum disease is linked to diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. In addition, gum diseases are also linked to preterm births and low birth weight in pregnant women. However, the fact is that with routine dental care and visits to dentists, many of these oral disorders may be prevented.
• To avoid airborne particles caused by the flush, dentists advise keeping a toothbrush at least six feet away from a toilet.
• 36% of Americans don’t visit the dentist at least once a year, which is a significant portion of the population. And that proportion rises to 50% when you take a look at people with the lowest household incomes.
• Nearly one-fourth (24%) of Americans go to the dentist once a year, 31% go twice a year, and 9% go more than twice.
• According to a survey, nearly half (48%) of Americans with dental insurance neglect to get the needed checkups or treatments done because of the price. 65% of individuals without insurance deferred going to the dentist for the same reason.

National Dentist Day: Why is a dental visit crucial?

National dentist day, which is celebrated on 6th March, motivates people to plan their dental visits and take care of their dental health in a better way. Moreover, by looking into facts and figures about dental health, it is estimated that most people are not aware of the importance of dental health. This is the reason why they often ignore it.  The importance of oral health will be best understood when individuals visit their dentist, and their dentist will assess the condition of their oral health. Upon check-up, a dentist can tell beforehand whether a dental disease will emerge in the future.

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A dental check is extremely important because of the following reasons:

• During regular checkups, dentists can figure out the minor developing cavities or other dental diseases in the initial stages and can treat them to prevent further decay.
• In children, a dental visit is crucial as a dentist can prevent the need for braces treatment by providing space maintainers in case of early loss of the baby tooth. Also, dentists can provide various solutions for breaking habits like thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, or mouth breathing, which can affect the growth and development of the face, mouth, and teeth.
• Dentists also play an important role in treating congenital birth defects like cleft lip and palate.  Hence, a dental opinion matters a lot.
• In addition to identifying dental problems, dentists can also identify other diseases since the mouth acts as a mirror of the body. For example, symptoms of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infections can be seen in the mouth as oral thrush with sore and bleeding gums.

National Dentist Day: How to celebrate it?

Both patients and dentists should celebrate national dentist day. Patients can celebrate dentist day by thanking their dentists and making a dental appointment. Additionally, they can educate others about the importance of dental visits. On the other hand, dentists can celebrate their day by creating educational posters, programs, videos, or posting content regarding oral health. In order to educate the maximum number of people about the importance of this day and oral health, electronic media can be used to commemorate national dentist day. Social media can be best used for this purpose. On this day, many posts regarding tips to prevent dental disease, complications of dental diseases, etc., could be posted with the hashtag national dentist day.  

Tips for Improving Dental Health

You can improve your dental health by

1. Eating a well-balanced diet rich in fruit and vegetables and low in sugar.
2. Giving up all tobacco usage.
3. Limiting alcohol intake.
4. Promoting safety gear when participating in sports and traveling on motorbikes and bicycles (to reduce the risk of facial injuries).
5. Using fluoride-containing toothpaste twice daily to brush your teeth (1000 to 1500 ppm).

Conclusion

To conclude, a healthy mouth can lead to a healthy body. When you have strong and healthy teeth, you can chew food more efficiently, leading to better digestion, which will benefit your overall health. Additionally, good dental health can give you a beautiful smile which can boost your confidence. Therefore, make sure to thank your dentist on national dentist day and have a checkup as well.

If you are planning to visit the dental office on this national dentist day, then schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Sharda Patel. Dr. Sharda Patel is a Pleasanton-based dentist who provides various general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry services. You can also call us on 925-846-4491 or send mail us at office@dentaloasispleasanton.com