By Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD
The Toothboss, www.toothboss.com
Hope everybody had a great holiday season. With the New Year in full swing, here are some fun, helpful and, in some cases, frightening dental facts for your perusal:
• You should not keep your toothbrush near the toilet. The airborne particles from the flush can travel up to a distance of six feet. Ew!
• People who drink three or more glasses of soda each day have 62% more tooth decay, fillings, and tooth loss than others.
• According to a survey done by Time magazine, 59% of Americans would rather have a dental appointment than be sitting next to someone talking on a cell phone. Can you hear me now?
• You should replace your toothbrush at least every three months, and always after you have an episode of flu, cold, or other viral infections.
• Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. However, it is not recommended using your pearly whites to open bottle caps.
• The standard advice to “see your dentist twice a year” was actually invented by an ad agency for Pepsodent toothpaste! Your dental professional should recommend the correct schedule for your regular dental visits.
Okay, now for some not so fun and frightening facts:
• More than three out of four people in the United States suffer from some form of gum disease. It is the leading cause of tooth loss in people over age 35. The good news is, in most cases gum disease can be prevented or controlled.
• In adults between the ages of 20 and 64, 91% have dental cavities and 27% have untreated tooth decay.
• 16% of people in the U.S. suffer from tooth erosion, the third worst in the world.
• 12% of Americans say they grind their teeth.
• Only 7% of Americans say they are happy with their teeth.
• 34% of Americans suffer from tooth sensitivity, with one-quarter of Americans saying they experienced more tooth sensitivity during the COVID19 pandemic.
• Untreated tooth decay is higher for Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black adults compared with non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic Asian adults, which says a lot about racial inequality in the field of dentistry.
One of the beauties of the new year is that you start with a clean slate. That includes dental benefits. I can’t think of a better way to start the year off right than to take care of your teeth.
No insurance? No worries. The Toothboss offers something we call The Toothboss Discount Plan (TBD). With TBD, for a nominal annual fee, you will receive two free simple cleanings, two free complete dental exams, free X-rays, plus a 20% discount on most dental procedures. This represents a significant savings over a traditional dental plan. Additional child family members can join too, for a lesser fee (about 30% less).
With the TBD Plan, there are no claim forms, no deductibles, and no waiting period.
For more information, give our office a call.
About the Author: Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD is the owner of The Toothboss, 1121 Main St., South Weymouth. For more information, call 781-335-0604 or visit www.toothboss.com.
