Oral Health Awareness is Important Every Month of the Year!

Dr. Mark Grucella, DDS • July 26, 2023

Oral health plays a significant role in our overall health, both physical and mental. Therefore, it’s beneficial and rewarding to think about oral health every day. There are national awareness months throughout the year that focus attention on different aspects of oral health and the importance of taking care of ourselves with good practices, routines, and professional care.

Here are some of the months receiving national recognition for different types of oral health topics:

February: National Children’s Dental Health Awareness Month

Sponsored by the American Dental Association (ADA), this month-long observance unites thousands of dedicated professionals, healthcare providers, and educators to raise awareness with children on the many benefits of good oral health and helps them get a jump start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. This year, the American Dental Association has distributed over 120,000 posters across the country to promote National Children’s Dental Health Month.

2023 ADA National Children’s Dental Health Awareness Poster

February: National Gum Disease Awareness Month

Another February event is National Gum Awareness. This program was launched in 2012 by the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry, a non-profit educational and research center. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 50% of all American adults over the age of 30 have some form of gum disease, and many are not even aware of it. As you age, the risk of gum disease increases even more. According to the same CDC report, around 70% of adults aged 65 and older have some level of gum disease.

National Gum Awareness Month highlights steps you can take to avoid gum disease, including the following:

Brush at least twice per day for two minutes.
Floss once per day.
Refrain from smoking and/or using oral tobacco products.
Limit sugary and starchy foods.
Properly control and treat diabetes.
Schedule a dental visit every six months.
Treat dry mouth, known as xerostomia.

April: National Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Early detection of oral cancer greatly increases long term survival and emphasizes the significance of regular oral cancer screening. While every dental appointment is an opportunity to get screened, it is recommended that adults over the age of 20 be screened once every three years and annually for adults over 40 years old. Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide.

Here are a Few Facts About Oral Cancer:

Oral Cancer is about two times more common in men vs. women.
About 95% of oral cancer cases occur in people over the age of 40.
1 of 4 people diagnosed with oral cancer did not have any risk factors.
Tobacco and alcohol are major risk factors for oral cancer.
Over 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer each year.
Regular dental check-ups provide early detection of oral cancer.
Ulcers and lumps in the mouth can be symptoms of oral cancer.
Early diagnosis and treatment can double the chance of survival.

September: Dental Infection Control Awareness Month

This national event is targeted at dental professionals, even though they follow these critical guidelines, procedures, and practices every day. The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) is a leading provider of infection prevention and control education, training, and credentialing. Dental Infection Control Awareness Month offers an opportunity for dental professionals to re-energize their commitment to safety.

2023 OSAP Dental Infection Control Awareness Poster

October: National Dental Hygiene Month

In 2009, National Dental Hygiene Month came about thanks to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA). They saw the need to focus on promoting healthy mouths and celebrating the hard work dental hygienists do to keep your teeth clean.

Tips for Good Oral Hygiene include:

Brushing Twice a Day
Flossing Every Day
Rinsing With Mouthwash

A Good Brushing Technique Involves:

Using the Right Angle - For the most effective brushing, tilt the brush at a 45-degree angle.
Using the Right Motion and Pressure - Gently move the toothbrush back and forth. Be careful not to be too rough!
Covering All Surfaces - Get inside, outside, top, bottom, and everywhere in between.
Don't Forget Your Tongue - Bacteria also lives on your tongue so make sure you remember to brush it too.

November: TMJ Awareness Month

November is TMJ Awareness Month, a national movement to help people understand this ailment and how to find relief. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint where your jaw connects to your skull. It functions as a sliding hinge to keep the movement of your jaw nice and smooth while avoiding collision with the bones in your skull. TMJ disorders (TMD) can occur if the joint cartilage is inflamed, erodes, or becomes misaligned due to injury or overuse. TMJ disorder is often overlooked during medical exams and can be misdiagnosed. A dentist can help identify and treat the cause of pain rather than just the symptoms.

Typical symptoms of TMJ include:

Throbbing Tension Headaches
Soreness in Neck and Shoulders
Pain When Chewing or Speaking

Always Be Aware with Our Friendly Style of Dental Care

Our friendly team of dental professionals is here to help you always stay focused, informed, and up to date on your oral health and well-being. Contact us to schedule an appointment by calling 330-733-7911 or request an appointment from our website by visiting GGDentist.com

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By Dr. Mark Grucella, DDS • February 8, 2023

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Just Like Halloween, There’s Really Nothing To Fear

By Dr. Mark Grucella • October 22, 2022

Halloween can understandably be a scary time of year. Afterall, when October rolls around, we start seeing the emergence of witches, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, vampires, bats, spiders, and everything else that can make the hair on the backs of our necks stand up. But then, October 31 st comes and goes, and we realize, there really wasn’t anything to fear in the first place. It was just our worries, anxieties, or the unknown running wild and getting the better of us. Time and time again, our new patients tell us how dental care can be a lot like Halloween. They have anxiety because of the unknown, or they had an unfavorable experience in the past that resulted in a reluctance to continue to seek care on a regular basis. We are proud to say we were a breath of fresh air for these patients. Once they came to us, they discovered there really wasn’t anything to fear and now look forward to each and every appointment so they can enjoy the many benefits of routine dental care. As we like to say, “Our Dental Care Does Not Scare” and here’s why: Friendly, Fun, Non-Judgmental Style of Care When patients come to one of our three Akron-Canton area dentist offices, they find a welcoming and friendly team of professionals focused only on the comfort, care, and well-being of our patients. We also like to have some fun! In addition to being dedicated dental professionals, we are sports fans who like to support our teams. When there’s a big game, you’ll see each of us wearing our favorite team’s jersey whether it’s the Guardians, Browns, and yes, even the Steelers. Holidays also provide us with great opportunities throughout the year to incorporate some fun by decorating our offices and ourselves with the applicable ornamentation. What’s really special is watching how our patients love to join in on the fun and dress up for the big games and holidays too! Informing and Empowering Our Patients Before we proceed with any type of care, we provide our patients with all the information, explanations, and answers to questions they want. Costs are also shared up-front so approval can be given and there are no surprises. We make sure our patients are always in charge of their individual care. Navigating Dental Insurance Benefits Like any type of insurance, dental benefits can get complicated. What’s covered? What’s not? Am I taking full advantage of all my dental insurance benefits? These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions by our patients. We help you navigate your dental insurance plan and understand all your benefits. No Dental Insurance, No Problem Not everyone has a dental insurance plan and the ability to minimize their out-of-pocket dental care cost. That’s why we created an in-house discount dental plan. It helps our patients who are not covered by dental insurance save on everything from cleanings and fillings to cosmetic procedures and crowns. See Why There’s Nothing To Fear While many people put off dental care because of worries or anxieties, we invite you to give us a try by scheduling an appointment at one of our three Akron-Canton area dental office locations. Please call us at 330-733-7911 or send us a request for an appointment here on our website by visiting this link: REQUEST APPOINTMENT Just like Halloween, we’re confident you are going to see there really is nothing to fear. In fact, you may just find you’ll have some fun!