Page 99 - 2015 Compass Now

Oral health is not only important for quality of life, but is related to the health of the rest of the body.
The state of Wisconsin released “The Burden of Oral Disease” report in 201017. The report states, “While
Wisconsin has made sufficient progress in improving the overall health status of Wisconsinites, oral disease
continues to be a key health concern for the state.” There is little information available on the overall oral
health of children and adults in the Great Rivers Region. What is available is at a state level. In 2008-2009,
26% of Wisconsin Head Start children had untreated tooth decay, compared to 19% nationally. Of Wisconsin
adults ages 35-44, 75% have no tooth loss, compared with 38% nationally. Of Wisconsin adults aged 65-74,
15% are toothless, compared with 24% nationally. Regarding oral preventive care, 51% of children have
had sealants on their molars (32% nationally), and 75% of children and adults had a dental visit within the
past twelve months (45% nationally). According to the Wisconsin Family Health Survey, in 2015, 25.8% of
Wisconsin counties in the Great Rivers Region did not receive a dental visit within the last twelve months.
This was slightly higher than the state average of 24%.

Wisconsin counties within the Great Rivers Region vary on their availability of fluoridation, with the rural
counties having more wells and private water systems (see Table 5).

Table 5: Percent of Population exposed to Fluoridation

County % of Population Served with Fluoridated Water:
Community Water Systems All Water systems

La Crosse 50-74.9% 50-74.9%

Monroe 25-49.9% 0-24.9%

Trempealeau 50-74.9% 25-49.9%

Vernon 0-24.9% 0-24.9%*

Houston N/A N/A

Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services. 2010 Burden of Oral Disease in
Wisconsin. Available at: http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.dhs.
wisconsin.gov/publications/P0/P00209.pdf
N/A=Data not available for Houston County
*0% of Vernon County Community Water Systems have fluoridated water.

What are the underlying risk factors or causes of illnesses? HEALTH

How Lifestyle Affects Health

There is a clear connection between certain lifestyles or health habits. These habits are known as modifiable
risk factors and are considered to be the major causes of death today. Research has suggested that between
35 and 40% of all deaths are caused by these risk factors. Table 6 shows the connection between the risk
factors and chronic diseases.

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