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Oral disease can be very costly, both in terms of treatment and also in terms of the wider economic cost of children missing school and adults taking time off work due to toothache.
Poor oral health is not a pretty sight: bad breath, yellowing or blackened teeth with red inflamed gums or even gaps where teeth should be are not particularly appealing. Visible oral disease can not only knock people’s confidence, but even lead to social exclusion and lower their chances of finding employment. Adults with poor levels of oral hygiene find it more difficult to secure jobs, according to a 2000 survey by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Did you know that oral disease has been linked to a variety of other serious conditions? Periodontitis (the severe form of gum disease) has been associated with cardiovascular disease, strokes and bacterial pneumonia.
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