Stephanie Kinsey, DDS, owner and founder of Palencia Dental in St. Augustine, Fla. provides the following tips for healthy teeth, gums, and bite during National Dental Health Month. According to Dr. Kinsey, each year, the month of February is recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA) to aid in increasing oral health awareness and promoting healthy smiles for adults and children.
“The recognition emphasizes the importance of being proactive, not reactive when it comes to oral health needs,” said Dr. Kinsey. “Millions of individuals go without dental care each year. The statistics are even more crucial for young people who still have primary teeth, as approximately 44 percent of U.S. children will suffer from pediatric dental disease before they reach kindergarten,” she said. “When it comes to cavity prevention and pristine dental health, knowledge is power.”
With the rise in dental health awareness and through the national recognition campaign, staggering dental health statistics may change in the future. However, parents and family members of newborns, toddlers and youngsters should consult with their medical and healthcare professionals, or pediatricians and pediatric dentists about proper dental and gum care.
“As pre-teens and teenagers progress into their later years and become adults, more care and attention needs to be dedicated to other specific needs as the mouth, jaw and gums mature,” said Dr. Kinsey. “For example, see a dentist every six months and follow a specific plan for individual dental health and appearance requirements from bite control to orthodontics to tooth saving measures and dental cosmetic improvements, among many others,” she said. Dr. Kinsey also recommends learning how to properly brush and floss with an understanding about the latest manual tools and devices and technologically-advanced methods.
Dr. Kinsey added that recently, a significant number of systemic connections have been made between periodontal health and overall wellness. Gum disease is becoming a silent killer in the U.S. affecting more adults than cancer, diabetes, or heart disease. With 74 percent of the population affected, gum disease which may include bone loss is associated with heart disease, strokes, and preterm births, and low birth weights. “The focus on overall dental health and wellness has resulted in exploring periodontal links to obesity, erectile dysfunction, pancreatic cancer, diabetes, dementia, and rheumatoid arthritis,” said Dr. Kinsey.
As an advanced Fellow from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI), a postgraduate training center for dentists, Dr. Kinsey is a member of LVI’s peer group of professionals who work together in the pursuit of advanced dental studies, treatments and procedures along with research in neuromuscular, clinical, and aesthetic dentistry, and practice management.
IF you are ready to take ownership of your overall dental health, star by calling LVI dentist Dr. Stephanie Kinsey at (904) 474-5444.
