A beautiful smile certainly speaks for you. One of the first things that people will notice about you is your smile. It’s your greeting card, your business card, your resume, and your facial “mood ring” all in one. Yet, we live in a nation where dental health is not taken seriously and not viewed as a part of our overall health and well-being.
Many people don’t get just how dangerous bad oral health habits can be.
Studies now show that poor oral health can not only cause gum disease, cavities, bad breath, and tooth loss, but is also linked to:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Preterm or low-birth weight
Oral Health & Financial Success?
A recent study even revealed that those with a beautiful smile are perceived as more successful, intelligent, interesting, wealthy, attractive and popular. Now more than ever, with a spiraling economy and increased competition at work, a healthy, confident smile can be your calling card to success. A strong, confident smile implies much more than personal hygiene; it truly shows accomplishment, happiness, radiance, and strength.
Oral Health Today: Problem One
One of the biggest concerns that I see is access to affordable dental insurance and quality dental care. As a healthcare provider, I meet so many people who want dental care and need dental care, but just can’t afford a quality dental plan due to dental insurance premiums. Employers are more likely to drop their employee’s dental insurance before dropping the medical insurance because dental insurance isn’t viewed as being as necessary as medical care.
As a result, patients are left to cope with dental diseases and other oral health problems as long as they can until their teeth hurt until they have a dental emergency. Statistics show a rise in ER hospital visits for dental care – which is not what people should be turning to.
Oral Health Today: Problem Two
My second concern is the lack of proper education about dental health. A lot of people don’t know “the rules” of dental healthcare. You know…
- Brush for two minutes, twice a day
- Floss every day (so many people don’t know why it’s so important)
- See a dentist every 6 months
When some people come to my office, they’re shocked to learn that what they thought they knew about taking care of their teeth is actually incorrect. For example, many people don’t realize that even if they are flossing, they’re not doing it properly.
Even some of my biggest clients in the entertainment industry have needed “basic training’ on dental care.
Why I’m So Committed…
Dentistry has changed my life, and I’m extremely passionate about my field. I’m committed to being an advocate for dental health by bringing the latest information on all aspects of dental care to our community. I’m excited to be working with amazing partners such as Colgate, The National Dental Association, The American Diabetes Association, Orasure Technologies, and more, who all truly care about the oral health of the nation – particularly in the black community.
My goal is continue to write consumer books on dental health, blog regularly, and speak to the masses via every media platform that’s out there. You’ll hopefully see and hear more from me in 2014…and many years to come!