Gum Disease Linked to Heart Disease & Stroke; You Need More than an Apple a Day Stay Healthy; 30,000 Plus Dentists Converge on Chicago 2/17/2004
From: Erica Ringewald, 312-408-2580 or 773-454-6225 (cell) or Nora Ferrell, 312-408-2580 or 773-510-4819 (cell); both of Valerie Denney Communications Keri Kramer of the Chicago Dental Society, 312-836-7330 or 312-617-1137 (cell) News Advisory: WHO: In conjunction with the Chicago Dental Society's upcoming Midwinter Meeting, the Society collected research data showing the direct connection between oral health and overall, physical health. As the Chicago Dental Society counts down to the annual Midwinter Meeting-one of the largest displays of dental products in North America-here are just a few of the ways dental health relates directly to overall, physical health. Oral Health Fact Number 1: Periodontal (gum) disease has been linked to heat disease, stroke and respiratory disease in medical studies-and 80 percent of Americans have gum disease. Oral Health Fact Number 2: Tooth decay is the number one chronic illness among children. 51 million school hours will be lost this year due to dental problems. If a child's tooth decay goes untreated, it can lead to tooth loss, eating problems, difficulty sleeping and paying attention in school, and speech problems. Oral Health Fact Number 3: Oral cancer occurs most often in those 40 and older. Early detection is critical; when detected late, the five-year survival rate is only 50 percent. Oral cancer among women has doubled over the past 45 years, likely due to increased smoking. Why: Data was collected for the Chicago Dental Society's 139th annual Midwinter Meeting, which begins at McCormick Place in Chicago on Feb. 20, 2004. More tips and quirky survey items will be revealed this week. For a full list of oral health facts, please contact Nora Ferrell or Erica Ringewald at 312-408-2580. The results of a survey of more than 600 dentists and information about new products on display at the Feb. 20 dental conference are also available. |