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SURVEY REVEALS WASHINGTONIANS MOST ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES IN VALENTINE INVOLVE THEIR SMILE

SEATTLE (February 13, 2014) A recent poll by Delta Dental of Washington reveals a healthy mouth could help in landing a date this Valentine’s Day. State wide, survey participants said the ability to make someone laugh (70 percent) and the warmth of their smile (54 percent) were the two most contributing factors to ones attractiveness.

The poll also found that 64 percent of Washingtonians were unaware that cavity causing bacteria can be passed through kissing.

While sugar, candies, soda and other sweets are usually blamed for rotten teeth and fillings, the real culprit is Streptococcus mutans, a bacteria that lives in saliva and plaque and thrives on food particles and sugar left in your mouth after eating. This bacteria produces acids that eat away at teeth, causing cavities, and can be easily transferred from person to person.

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Fortunately, good oral habits such as brushing and flossing regularly, drinking water, chewing sugarless gum and regular visits to the dentist can help keep the bacteria at bay and reduce the risk of tooth decay.

“Having a healthy smile impacts our overall well-being,” said Dr. Ron Inge, Vice President and Dental Director for Delta Dental of Washington. “It’s no surprise that a healthy smile and attraction go hand-in-hand.”

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This Valentine’s Day, Delta Dental of Washington recommends the following tips to keep a healthy smile all year long:

·         Brush/floss regularly: The daily ritual of brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing once is still the foundation for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. The longer food stays stuck to your teeth, the more acid is produced that erodes tooth enamel.

·         Visit your dentist: Don’t delay making an appointment for a checkup. Dentists do more than just check and clean teeth. They can also check for warning signs of serious oral health problems like oral cancer and gum disease, as well as early stages of diabetes and heart disease.

·         Eat sweets in moderation: Tooth decay occurs when candy, cookies, sodas and other sweets, or simple carbohydrates like those in chips or crackers, mix with bacteria in the sticky plaque that constantly forms on teeth to produce acid, which can destroy tooth enamel.

·         Avoid tobacco products: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), half of the cases of severe gum disease in U.S. adults can be attributed to cigarette smoking, and the prevalence of gum disease is three times higher among smokers than non-smokers.

For more information on oral health, please visit DeltaDentalWa.com.

 

About Delta Dental of Washington
Delta Dental of Washington, a member of the nationwide Delta Dental Plans Association, is the dental benefits innovator in Washington delivering access to dental care for more than 50 years to more than 2.2 million people through employer-sponsored and consumer plans. Since 1954, Delta Dental of Washington, with the support of its Foundation, has been committed to improving people’s lives by reducing the barriers to oral healthcare. For more information, go to DeltaDentalWa.com.

 

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