Many Americans lack adequate access to dental care, with about 1 in 4 adults having untreated tooth decay.
Dental insurance is often separate from medical insurance, and many Americans lack dental coverage, especially seniors on Medicare.
High costs of dental care/insurance is a significant barrier, and people avoid dental care due to expenses.
There are notable disparities in dental health and access based on income, race, and geographic location.
There’s a shortage of dentists in many rural and low-income urban areas.
Advancements in dental technology are improving treatments, but may also increase costs.
About 1 in 4 adults having untreated tooth decay.
There’s a growing emphasis on preventive care, but many still primarily seek dental care for emergencies.
Approximately 75% of American adults plan to visit a dentist in the coming year, and 65% of adults aged 18 and over had a dental visit within the past year.
87% of people say that poor oral health negatively affects their life, emphasizing the importance of regular dental care.
Over 90% of Americans understand the importance of maintaining a healthy mouth by seeing a dentist regularly.
Notably, 7 out of 10 Americans brush their teeth twice a day, but 23% admit to occasionally skipping brushing.
One-third of Americans floss daily, one-third floss occasionally, and one-third never floss.
20% of people floss only when they have food stuck in their teeth, and individuals from low-income groups are more likely to skip flossing.
Approximately 30% of Americans worry about halitosis, or bad breath.
Only 1 out of 2 people in the U.S. have a solid understanding of oral health.
Around 64% of children aged 2-4 years, 92% of children aged 5-11 years, and 90% of adolescents aged 12-17 years have had dental visits in the past year.
Kids miss more than 50 million hours of school each year due to dental problems.
4 out of 10 American children have tooth decay before starting kindergarten.
1 in 4 adults aged 20-44 has untreated dental caries.
Tooth Brushing: 37% of adults aged 18-24 admit to skipping brushing their teeth for two or more days.
Dental Visits: 64% of people aged 18-44, 68% of those aged 45-64, and 63% of people aged 65 and older report a dental visit in the past year.
20% of older adults have lost all their teeth.
Gum Disease: Two-thirds of older adults suffer from gum disease.
96% of adults over the age of 65 have had cavities.
69% of males report a dental visit in the past year versus 63% of females.
Men are more likely to develop gum diseases (56%) than women (38%).
In contrast, women are at a higher risk of dental caries (92%) versus men (90%).
Women floss more often, are more embarrassed by tooth loss, more likely to receive professional dental care, and exhibit greater awareness about oral health than men.
Tooth Decay and Gum Disease: Over 80% of people have at least one cavity by age 34, and about 40-50% of American adults over age 30 have periodontal (gum) disease.
Oral Cancer: Around 45,000 Americans receive a diagnosis of oral and pharyngeal cancer annually, with a 5-year survival rate of 61%.
The death rate is nearly three times higher in males than in females.