A trip to the dentist may not be on anyone’s Top 10 list of fun things to do, but the importance of oral health cannot be overstated.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 1 out of 3 adults and close to 1 in 5 children has untreated cavities. Periodontal, or gum, disease—an inflammatory condition of the tissue surrounding teeth—is even more common than diabetes. In fact, half of adults aged 30 and older suffer from gum disease, which can lead to receding gums, bone damage, and tooth loss. Gum disease is also associated with increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and pregnancy complications.

Luckily, steps such as brushing twice a day, flossing daily, stopping smoking and tobacco, minimizing sugary drinks and snacks, and getting regular dental cleanings and checkups can help detect and prevent cavities and gum disease.

Incorporate oral health into your wellness program

In addition to better overall health, improving oral care can reduce costs for both employees and employers. Preventing oral problems can:

• Save money on dental work
• Decrease use of PTO or sick leave
• Improve productivity
• Decrease absenteeism

Ideas for wellness coordinators

• Promote resources for your employees around tobacco cessation, nutrition, and stress management. Tobacco and nicotine are associated with greater risk of gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancer. Stress can lead to bruxism, which is the act of clenching or grinding your teeth. Bruxism can cause headaches, jaw pain, or tooth fractures and loss.
• Provide sugar-free beverages (especially plain water) in your workplace.
• Communicate with employees about any dental benefits your workplace offers; a health care flexible spending account can help employees pay for dental expenses with before-tax dollars.
• Check out these resources for employees:
  • Healthy mouth resources for adults under 40
  • Healthy mouth resources for adults aged 40-60

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(CORRECTED LINK) Click here to read this month's E-tips for your employees: "Get more mileage from your mouth."

To share these E-tips with employees, you can:  

• Email the E-tips document to your staff as an attachment. 1) (CORRECTED LINK) Click the link to download and save the E-tips to your computer. 2) Add your organization's logo in the bottom left corner. 3) Then send it as an email attachment to staff. 
• Print the document once you've added your organization's logo and post it in a common area in your workplace.
• Copy and paste the text into your organization's newsletter.

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