Oral health refers to the condition of the mouth, teeth, gums and surrounding tissues being healthy. This can be achieved by controlling the bacteria and other microorganisms in the mouth, brushing teeth properly and preventing gum diseases.
What is Oral Health?
Oral health encompasses the prevention and treatment of oral and dental problems such as tooth decay, gum diseases, bad breath, mouth sores and oral cancer. Good dental health is also important for maintaining overall body health since dental and gum diseases can be linked to heart disease, diabetes, respiratory infections and other health issues.
Why Should Dental Health be Maintained?
Maintaining oral health is extremely important for general health and well-being. Therefore, maintaining dental health brings the following benefits:
- Prevents tooth and gum diseases.
- Supports the maintenance of overall body health.
- Improves the ability to eat, reducing the risk of nutritional deficiencies.
- Boosts self-confidence.
- Good oral health requires fewer visits to the dentist, less medication use and less dental treatment, thus helping to save money.
What Problems Can Arise from Neglecting Oral Health?
Neglecting dental health can lead to several problems. The potential problems include:
- Tooth Decay: Inadequate brushing, lack of flossing or excessive consumption of sugary foods can cause tooth decay.
- Gum Diseases: Poor oral hygiene can cause inflammation of the gums surrounding the teeth, leading to gum diseases, gum recession and tooth loss.
- Bad Breath: Inadequate brushing or oral hygiene can cause bad breath.
- Sensitive Teeth: Abrasive toothpaste or excessive brushing can cause enamel wear and make the teeth sensitive.
- Oral Cancer: Poor oral hygiene increases the risk of cancerous cells developing in the mouth.
- Heart Disease: Gum diseases are linked to heart disease and other health issues.
- Diabetes: Gum diseases can make it harder to control diabetes.
- Pregnancy Issues: Poor oral health can cause pregnancy issues such as preterm birth, low birth weight and preeclampsia.
What Should be Done to Maintain Oral Health?
The following are some of the things that can be done to maintain oral health:
- Regular brushing: Brushing helps to remove plaque and tartar buildup on teeth. It is recommended to brush at least twice a day for 2 minutes each time.
- Use of dental floss: Food particles that get stuck between teeth can lead to gum disease in areas where a toothbrush cannot reach. Therefore, the use of dental floss should be done in conjunction with brushing.
- Use of mouthwash: Mouthwash can help prevent bacterial and plaque buildup. However, using mouthwash alone is not sufficient, as it does not replace brushing or flossing.
- Proper nutrition: A healthy diet is important in preventing dental health problems. Avoiding sugary and acidic foods can help prevent the growth of bacteria that cause tooth decay.
- Avoidance of smoking and alcohol: Smoking and alcohol use can cause many problems, such as oral cancer, gum disease and tooth decay.
- Regular dental checkups: Regular visits to the dentist can help in the early detection of gum disease and tooth decay. This can prevent problems from progressing.
Oral health is of great importance to overall well-being. Therefore, investing in oral health, regular dental checkups and not ignoring existing problems are extremely important.
