The state of dental health in our nation is a cause for concern according to Dr. James Hibbard, president of the National Society of Dentists. Dr. Hibbard expressed his concerns in an article appearing this week in Our Dental Health magazine, which is distributed among dentists and other health care workers throughout the country. “Most people don't have good dental (1)...............”, he says. When people aren't careful about keeping their teeth clean, Dr. Hibbard warns, the result is (2)............... gums, cavities, and even tooth loss. "Dentists should be firmer about (3)............... their patients to maintain their dental health. Dentists need to do more education with their patients, and patients need to follow their dentists' advice," recommends Dr. Hibbard.