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Dental Hygiene
The Importance of Good Oral Health
Good oral health is essential to maintain the ability to speak and eat properly. It also promotes a better appearance and hence self esteem. Good oral health helps prevent pain and discomfort, disease and infections, tooth loss, and bad breath.
An association has been shown between poor dental health and conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Not surprisingly malnutrition also has an effect. Poor dental health can alert people to these underlying conditions. If poor dental health persists speak with your doctor and have your general health checked..
A healthy mouth increases the chance of better health all round.
Tooth Decay
The dental plaque that grows on teeth contains bacteria. Plaque bacteria metabolise the sugars in our diet for energy and to grow, producing plaque acids. These acids erode the enamel on our teeth, producing tooth decay.
The more often we consume foods containing sugar, the more our teeth are at risk of tooth decay. The best way to prevent tooth decay is to reduce both the amount and the frequency of sugar in the diet.
Foods and beverages that increase the risk of tooth decay include alcohol, soft drinks, tea or coffee with added sugar, condensed milk, muesli bars, jams, cakes, lollies, dried fruit, etc.
Gum Disease
When dental plaque is not removed from the teeth, the bacteria in the plaque irritate the gums, causing inflammation. This is known as gingivitis. Gingivitis is the most common form of gum disease. Over 90% of people have gingivitis somewhere in their mouth. The symptoms of gingivitis include red, swollen gums that often bleed when tooth-brushing.
In some people, the inflammation caused by the plaque bacteria causes infection and destruction of the tissues and bone that surrounds and supports the teeth. This condition is called periodontitis. Only around 10% of people suffer from this advanced form of gum disease, yet periodontitis is the major cause of adult tooth loss. Family history, diabetes and smoking are the main contributing factors for periodontitis.
In the early stages, periodontitis appears the same as gingivitis. However, as the disease progresses, the gums may receed (shrink) and the teeth can become mobile or even fall out. The gums often bleed and pus may even ooze from around the teeth. This infection causes very bad breath.
Thorough cleaning of the teeth to remove dental plaque will prevent gum disease.
The Importance of Regular Dental Checkups
Regular checkups are important for the early detection of dental diseases. In the early stages, dental disease is often symptomless and the person is unaware of any problem. If problems are detected early, treatment is usually cheaper and a lot less complex.
Dental professionals can also recommend preventive treatments, such as fluoride, that will reduce the risk of dental disease and the need for complex, expensive treatment.
Content provided by Leanne Coombe, Education Officer, Centre for Rural and Remote Oral Health, July 2002
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