Can a smile be a window to someone’s overall health? More studies over recent years show a connection between oral health and overall health in both adults and children. This connection is due in large part to an association with periodontal disease, or gum disease, and systemic diseases. Cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and respiratory disease all impact an individual’s oral health. Since the health of our mouth impacts our overall health, can we reason that people with dental benefits are healthier? It’s no coincidence our slogan is “Unleash Your Smile Power with Delta Dental.” In many cases across the country, it’s not only about having dental benefits, but also having easy access to dental care that helps determine oral and overall health.
Access to Dental Care
We are proud to say that at Delta Dental of New Jersey and Connecticut we are backed nationally by the largest network of dentists. Families with dental insurance are almost twice as likely to get preventive care as those without it. We understand why it’s important to you and your family that your dentist is someone you trust. It’s also important that they are close to where you live or work.
If you have dental benefits and a conveniently located dentist, you are more likely to get the care you and your family need for a healthy smile. So, with access to a dentist, what is the general impact of having or not having dental benefits?
- Those who do not have dental benefits are more likely to have extractions and dentures and other restorative care.
- Americans with dental benefits are more likely to go to the dentist, receive preventive care, and experience greater overall health.
Oral and Overall Health Connection
As we know, proper oral health care reduces the harmful bacteria in our mouths. That means you should brush twice per day for two minutes, floss once per day, and regularly visit the dentist. Not only do bacteria in our mouths adversely affect our oral health, but they are connected with diseases like endocarditis and pneumonia according to Mayo Clinic.
With good oral health care, along with the body’s natural defenses, we can keep harmful bacteria and acids under control. But without good oral health care and regular visits to the dentist, these bacteria can reach levels that can lead to infections. A decline in the health of the mouth increases your likelihood of developing those diseases.
Quality of Life and Good Oral Health Care
Tooth decay, tooth loss, or fractured teeth can have a substantial impact on your self-esteem. Good oral health practices and regular dental visits have a direct connection to the appearance of your smile; your ability to interact with people, pronounce words, and chew food; and your quality of life.
People with Dental Benefits are Healthier
There is a confirmed connection between having dental benefits and being healthier. Because those without coverage are less likely to see the dentist for regular cleanings and checkups, they experience gum disease and other oral health-related problems. These problems can be uncomfortable or painful, and lead to overall health concerns.
Delta Dental’s State of Oral Health Report shows that 9 in 10 adults with dental insurance indicated that having coverage is well worth the cost and gives them a reason to visit the dentist at least once a year, and 93% of adults reported that they considered oral health to be very – if not extremely important to overall health.
The State of Oral Health Report, sponsored by Delta Dental, also indicated that among adults who visited the dentist in 2020, those with insurance are significantly more likely to have sought preventive care than those without coverage (87% of adults with dental insurance visited the dentist compared to 66% of adults without dental coverage).
“The health of our teeth and gums contributes to our overall health and general quality of life, including the ability to eat without pain or to smile with confidence,” Joe Dill, DDS, MBA, Delta Dental Plan’s Association’s vice president of dental science said. “Dental insurance helps to promote routine, preventive care to maintain our healthy smiles.”
To get more information about our dental benefits plans, click here.
