The significance of dental hygiene
Oral and dental health is linked to general health. Cavities and gum disease can make it difficult to eat and speak properly, as well as causing pain and foul smell. Many people are unaware that poor dental health can have a significant detrimental impact on areas other than the mouth, such as the heart, diabetes, pregnancy, and chronic inflammation, such as arthritis, to mention a few.
According to some research, gum disease germs can go to your heart and cause heart disease, clogged arteries, or stroke. Premature births and low birth weight have been linked to gum infections such periodontitis in pregnant women.
Diabetes lowers the body\’s resistance to infection, making the gums more vulnerable to infection and affecting blood sugar levels. HIV patients frequently have painful mouth sores.
It is critical to practise proper dental hygiene since it can help to prevent oral disease and dental disorders. And prevention should take precedence.
What are the symptoms of a major dental issue?
If you have discomfort, bleeding gums, swelling within and outside the mouth, tenderness, blisters and ulcers that don\’t heal, or obvious changes in the colour or texture of your soft tissues, you should see your dentist. All of these symptoms could indicate a significant or potentially serious condition like oral cancer or chronic gum disease.
What are the essential elements of effective dental hygiene?
Brushing for at least two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, and visiting your dentist for check-ups and dental cleanings every six months are all important aspects of proper dental health. Diet is also essential. Sugar consumption must be kept to a minimum. Alcohol should be consumed in moderation. Smoking, as well as any other tobacco usage, should be avoided.
Oral diseases are becoming more common in most low- and middle-income nations as urbanisation and changing living conditions develop. This is due to a lack of fluoride exposure (in the water supply and dental hygiene products such as toothpaste), the availability and affordability of high-sugar foods, and low community access to oral health care services. The promotion of high-sugar foods and beverages, as well as tobacco and alcohol, has resulted in an increase in the consumption of products that lead to oral health problems and other noncommunicable diseases.
Dental deterioration (tooth decay)
Plaque grows on the surface of a tooth, converting the free sugars (all sugars added to foods by the manufacturer, cook, or consumer, plus sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, and fruit juices) in foods and drinks into acids that gradually damage the tooth. Caries, discomfort, and even tooth loss and infection can result from a high intake of free sugars, insufficient fluoride exposure, and a lack of plaque clearance by toothbrushing.
Gum disease (periodontitis)
The tissues that surround and support the tooth are affected by periodontal disease. Gingivitis is characterised by bleeding or swollen gums, discomfort, and occasionally poor breath. The gum can pull away from the tooth and supporting bone in more severe cases, causing teeth to become loose and fall out. Severe periodontal diseases are estimated to impact roughly 14% of the global adult population, resulting in over one billion cases1. Poor dental hygiene and tobacco use are the leading causes of periodontal disease.
Cancer of the mouth
Cancers of the lip, other areas of the mouth, and the oropharynx are all examples of oral cancer. The global incidence of lip and oral cavity malignancies is estimated to be 4 incidences per 100,000 individuals. However, there is a large range of instances per 100 000 individuals around the world, ranging from 0 to roughly 22. Oral cancer is more common in men and the elderly, and it varies greatly according to socioeconomic status.
Oral cancer is caused by the use of tobacco, alcohol, and areca nut (betel quid).. Human papillomavirus infections are causing an increasing number of mouth malignancies in young people in North America and Europe.
Noma is a gangrenous disease that affects the mouth and face. It primarily affects children aged 2–6 years who are malnourished, infected, live in extreme poverty, have poor dental hygiene, or have impaired immune systems.
Although cases have been documented in Latin America and Asia6, noma is predominantly seen in Sub-Saharan Africa. Inside the mouth, noma begins as a soft tissue lesion (a sore) of the gums. The initial gum lesion subsequently turns into an acute necrotizing gingivitis that spreads quickly, damaging the soft tissues before spreading to the face\’s hard structures and skin. Lip and palate deformities
The most common cranial birth abnormalities, orofacial clefts, have a global prevalence of 1 in 1000-1500 births, with substantial variance among studies and populations8,9. A big factor is genetic predisposition. Poor maternal nutrition, cigarette use, alcohol intake, and obesity during pregnancy all have a part10. The neonatal phase has a high death rate in low-income countries. Complete recuperation is achievable if lip and palate clefts are corrected properly with surgery.