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Our mission is to empower you with the information, guidance and tools you need to make informed personal health choices and decisions.
 In conjunction with American Diabetes Month, during the month of November, and the Great American Smokeout on November 19, we’re offering you educational and compelling materials about the importance of maintaining good oral health.
Because a healthier you begins here.
November is American Diabetes Month®
How does diabetes effect your oral health?
Good oral health not only keeps the mouth infection-free, but there may also be a connection between oral health and diabetes. Individuals with diabetes tend to be at higher risk of periodontal (gum) diseases. Periodontal disease is an infection affecting the gum and bone that hold your teeth in place. Advanced stages can lead to problems with chewing or loss of teeth.
While people with diabetes have a greater chance of getting periodontal disease, research also suggests periodontal disease may make it more difficult for diabetics to regulate their blood sugar. When blood sugar goes unmanaged, high glucose levels may lead to more difficulties fighting off infections, paving the way for oral disease.
For more information, download this informative PDF on the Stages of Periodontal Disease (also available in Spanish).
Annual Great American Smokeout is November 19
Today is your day to quit.
The American Cancer Society has scheduled the Great American Smokeout for November 19, 2009, to encourage smokers to quit for a day and raise awareness of the many effective ways to quit. Smoking is linked to heart disease and overall health problems. Tobacco also can have a significant impact on oral health, affecting the mouth in the following ways:
- Oral cancer
- Bad breath
- Stained teeth
- Loss of taste
- Less success with dental implants
- Mouth sores
For more information about how to quit, download this helpful PDF about the relationship between tobacco use and oral health (also available in Spanish).
The Smokeout began in the 1970s when smoking and secondhand smoke were commonplace. The event has helped bring about dramatic changes in Americans' attitudes about smoking as community programs and smoke-free laws are now saving lives in many states.
Each year, the Great American Smokeout also draws attention to the deaths and chronic diseases caused by smoking. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, many state and local governments responded by banning smoking in workplaces and restaurants, raising taxes on cigarettes, limiting advertising, discouraging teen cigarette use and taking further actions to counter smoking. For more information about diabetes, periodontal disease, and other health-related information, visit www.myoptumhealth.com.
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