PDS-supported practices educate patients about the benefits of water to their oral health
IRVINE, CALIF. February 12, 2021 – Tooth decay, also known as dental caries or cavities, is one of the most common chronic diseases for children in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 of 5 children aged 5 to 11 years old have at least one untreated decayed tooth. Leading DSO Pacific Dental Services® (PDS) joins the American Dental Association (ADA) in recognizing February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month. This year’s theme, “Water, Nature’s Drink,” draws attention to the benefits drinking water has on oral health.
Established as a month-long campaign in February 1981 by the ADA, this national health observance month is dedicated to promoting the benefits of good oral health to children, their families, and teachers. Drinking water helps maintain oral health by keeping the mouth clean and strengthening teeth. Water rinses away excess food and reduces cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. Additionally, the fluoridation of public water supplies as the single most effective public health measure to help prevent tooth decay. More than 70 years of scientific research has consistently shown that an optimal level of fluoride in community water is safe and effective and prevents tooth decay by at least 25% in both children and adults.
For children with special needs, access to specialized care, such as dentistry, is among their main healthcare needs. Many parents of children with special needs report that finding dentists able and willing to treat their children is a challenge. Although there are more than 52 million people with disabilities in the United States, many dental professionals are unprepared to treat them. The PDS Foundation Dentists for Special Needs office provides this much needed access to care to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with over 450 of these patients being under the age of 18. The office is designed to be an inclusive space with sensory-integrated operatories and state-of-the-art technology, as well as specially-trained dentists equipped with techniques to ensure successful patient visits and provide patients and their caregivers with education to help them with their oral health in between visits.
PDS-supported dentists are committed to bringing awareness to their patients about the link between oral health and whole-body health – what PDS and its supported practices call the Mouth-Body Connection®. Research shows that harmful bacteria and inflammation in the mouth can indicate and even cause systemic conditions throughout the body. Maladies of the mouth, including periodontal disease, may be linked with other medical conditions including cardiovascular disease, oral cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and more.