Cancer therapies, such as radiation to the head and neck or chemotherapy, can cause oral problems, including dry mouth, tooth decay, painful mouth sores, and cracked and peeling lips.  Before starting cancer treatments, it is important to see a dentist and take care of any necessary dental work. Your dentist  will also show you how to care for your teeth and mouth before, during, and after your cancer treatment to prevent or reduce the oral problems that can occur.

Complete tooth loss:  Complete tooth loss(edentulism) is the loss of all natural teeth. It can substantially reduce quality of life, self-image, and daily functioning.

Confidence Interval:  The computed interval with a given probability that the true value of the statistic- such as a mean, proportion, or rate-is contained within the interval. 
 
Dental Visits:  Regular use of the oral health care delivery system leads to better oral health by providing an opportunity for clinical preventive services and early detection of oral diseases. Infrequent users of dental services have more decayed teeth, more severe periodontal diseases, and are more likely to lose all of their teeth.
 
Fluoride:  Fluoride is a natural mineral found throughout the earth's crust and widely distributed in nature.  Some foods and water supplies contain fluoride.  Fluoride is
often added to drinking water to help reduce tooth decay.  Fluoride concentrates in the growing bones and developing teeth of children, helping to harden the enamel on baby and adult teeth before they emerge.  Fluoride helps to harden tech enamel on adult teeth that have already emerged. 

Fluoridation Status:  Status of a community water system in regards to water fluoridation level.  Most water contains some amount of natural fluoride.  Fluoridation involves adjusting fluoride in the water to the level optimal for the prevention of dental caries.  The recommended amount of fluoride in water systems is 0.7-1.2ppm (parts per million), which is equivalent to 0.7-1.2mg/L (milligrams per liter).  

Naturally Fluoridated Water:   Water systems are considered to be naturally fluoridated if they contain naturally occurring fluoride at 0.7 ppm or more. 

Non fluoridated Water: Water systems are considered to be nonaffiliated if they contain less than 0.7 ppm fluoride. 

Oral cancer: (mouth cancer) most often occurs in people over age 40. The disease frequently goes unnoticed in its early, curable stages. This is true in part because many older people, particularly those wearing full dentures, do not visit their dentists often enough and because pain is usually not an early symptom of the disease.  People who smoke cigarettes, use other tobacco products, or drink excessive amounts of alcohol are at increased risk for oral cancer.

Periodontal Diseases: Periodontal diseases include gingivitis and periodontitis.  Both are inflammatory conditions of the gingival tissues (gum tissues around the teeth).  In more server forms, periodontitis includes loss of supporting bone tissue which can lead to tooth loss. 

Private Water Supply: Individual water systems, generally wells and springs, serving one or several residences.
 
Public Water Supply System (PWS): A public water system provides water for human consumption to the public through piped or other constructed conveyances.  A PWS has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily for at least 60 days out of the year.  Ground water sources, surface water sources, or a combination of the two sources may provide water to a PWS.  In some cases, on PWS may purchase all or part of its water from another PWS.
 
Teeth Cleaning: A dentist or dental hygienist removes soft debris, stain, and hard deposits (calculus or tartar) on the teeth that cannot be removed by brushing and flossing.  Regular teeth cleaning by a dentist or dental hoydenish helps prevent periodontal diseases. 
 
Tooth Decay (cavities): Tooth decay is not just a children's disease: it can happen as long as natural teeth are in the mouth.  Tooth decay is caused by bacteria that normally live in the mouth. The bacteria cling to teeth and form a sticky, colorless film called dental plaque. The bacteria in plaque live on sugars and produce decay causing acids that dissolve minerals on tooth surfaces. Tooth decay can also develop on the exposed roots of the teeth if you have gum disease or receding gums (where gums pull away from the teeth, exposing the roots). 

Just as with children, fluoride is important for adult teeth. Research has shown that adding fluoride to the water supply is the best and least costly way to prevent tooth decay. In addition, using fluoride tooth pastes and mouth rinses can add protections. Daily fluoride rinses can be bought at most drug stores without a prescription. If you have a problem with cavities, your dentist or dental hygienist may give you a fluoride treatment during the office visit. The dentist may prescribe a fluoride gel or mouth
rinse for you to use at home.