Delta Dental of Colorado uniquely understands the critical connection between oral health and overall health. Beyond just giving you the ability to eat, speak, and smile, your oral health affects your overall health AND your financial health. We want our members and all Coloradans to understand this fact so that they make it a priority!
For some reason, we tend to think about our mouths and our teeth as completely separate from the rest of our body. But oral health is very closely related to overall health. Preventive dental visits can help your maintain not just a healthy mouth—but a healthy body too. Regular checkups can detect signs of nutritional deficiencies, infection, or even more serious systemic diseases. We recently created an oral health fact sheet that highlights the importance of regular dental care.
Here are some highlights:
- More than 90% of all systemic diseases are linked to oral health.
- The mouth can serve as an early-warning detection system for more than 120 diseases.
- Fewer than 40% of working-age adults see a dentist in any given year.
- An untreated cavity can cost more than $6,000 over a lifetime.
One of my priorities as the CEO of Delta Dental of Colorado is to educate the community and share this information with as many people as possible about the importance of dental care. A healthy smile isn’t just a nice thing to have; it’s a critical part of our overall health care.
We’re working with our partners to address these challenges, including:
- Family Physicians
- Dentists
- CU School of Dental Medicine
- Colorado Department of Public Heath
- Health Foundations
We’re also working hard to increase access to oral health care. Whether through the foundation’s innovative CO MDI program that places hygienists in health clinics across the state, or creating a new affiliate to provide oral health to the underserved, we can all play a role in spreading the word. And with the largest network in the state, our dentists play a key role in promoting these messages to our members.
I am proud of all the work we do to expand access to services, help members understand their benefits, and share oral health and wellness messages.
The good news? Cavities and periodontal disease are nearly 100% preventable—and you are helping us make that happen.