As hopeful rescue efforts turned into grim recovery operations, and stunned Americans tried to make sense of a frightening new reality, ADHA sought to assess the impact of the September 11 terrorist attacks on dental hygienists. Due to current events, CDC is on heightened alert status to monitor for any possible unusual disease patterns associated with the events of September 11, including chemical and biological agents. CDC recommends that you initiate heightened surveillance for any unusual disease occurrence or increased numbers of illnesses that might be associated with today's events. According to an article in USA Today, Baycol, the controversial cholesterol-lowering drug, was taken off of store shelves in a voluntary worldwide recall on August 8, after being linked to as many as 52 deaths the world over, including 31 in the U.S. alone. ADHA's Frequently Asked Questions list may have the answer.
Tobacco is the primary cause of oral cancers.
Smoking a pack of cigarettes a day or using smokeless tobacco quadruples the risk of developing oral cancer. Oral cancer occurs twice as frequently in men as women. Toothbrushes should be replaced every two-three months and after illnesses, like a cold or flu. Three out of four patients don't change their toothbrush as often as they should. Two out of three dental hygienists report that they see signs of hypertension and heart disease in some of their patients.