Healthy mouth, healthy body…
The latest research indicates that, when it comes to spotting the early signs of disease, a dentist can prove just as beneficial to a patient as a doctor…
More than 300 diseases have early symptoms that can be detected in the mouth, so visiting the dentist regularly may not only preserve a healthy smile; it may also lead to the early diagnosis of more serious illnesses.
Maintaining good oral health may also help to prevent certain diseases. For example, according to research undertaken at the University of Buffalo in the United States, people diagnosed with head and neck cancers are much more likely to have chronic periodontitis – advanced gum disease resulting in loss of bone and soft tissue around the teeth.
Other studies have previously indicated a link between periodontal disease and the likelihood of developing heart disease and diabetes.
Statistics from an American study of nearly 50,000 men from 1986 onwards discovered that those with gum disease had a 14 per cent higher cancer risk. Lung cancer risk increased by a third, blood cell cancers by 30 per cent and there was almost a 50 per cent rise in the chance of kidney and pancreatic cancers.*
So conditions such as gingivitis and gum disease are not just a pain in the mouth – they could potentially jeopardise overall health, too.
And while scientists are yet to establish cause and effect between poor oral health and other health problems, associations have also been made between periodontal disease and dementia and rheumatoid arthritis. **
The importance of brushing up on oral healthcare should not be underestimated.
Dentists can spot the early stages of mouth cancer during a routine examination, which underlines the importance of regular check-ups. According to the British Dental Foundation, the chances of curing mouth cancer are much greater if the disease is caught quickly.
And while looking after teeth and gums should be a priority for individuals, it has also increasingly become a key issue for employers.
A recent survey by COVER Magazine revealed that more than three quarters of employers believe dental insurance contributes to the health and wellbeing of their workforce.
But with continued reports of people struggling to find an NHS dentist, rising numbers going private and the advent of dental tourism (people travelling abroad to access dental treatment), it is not hard to see why dental care and budgeting for treatment can be a business issue as well as a personal one.
Dental and optical are the two most popular benefits on Westfield Health’s cash plans and have always been key drivers for the organisation.
A dental benefit is included on all of Westfield’s plans, enabling policyholders to claim money back towards the cost of check-ups and treatment with either an NHS or private dentist.
This benefit helps to provide more choice for people seeking immediate treatment and eases their concerns about paying dental bills.
Some of Westfield’s plans include a dental trauma benefit, which offers policyholders money back towards treatment carried out as the result of an accidental injury to their teeth.
In addition, Westfield offers cover for dependent children on some plans, which could prove useful and reassuring to parents reading recent newspaper reports of a spike in the number of children having rotten teeth removed.
References
* http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/multiplemyeloma/news?NewsItemId=20080527elin020.xml
** www.webmd.com/oral-health/dangers-of-plaque-and-gingivitis-to-your-health
© Westfield Health Insurance 2012
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