Normally, the body's natural defenses and good oral health care, such as brushing your teeth and flossing daily, keep bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that could cause oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Good oral and dental hygiene can help prevent bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease, and can help you preserve your teeth as you age. Establishing good oral hygiene and dietary habits has been shown to be essential to achieving and maintaining overall physical and emotional well-being throughout life.
Plaque buildup caused by poor oral hygiene can cause serious tooth decay or gum infection, which in turn can lead to tooth loss. Therefore, maintaining good oral hygiene is important to improve your oral health and overall well-being. Practicing good dental hygiene is very important, as it can prevent these types of oral diseases and dental problems. The commercialization of high-sugar foods and beverages, as well as tobacco and alcohol, has led to an increasing consumption of products that contribute to oral health conditions and other non-communicable diseases.
And what many people may not realize is that poor dental health can have a profound negative effect on areas outside the mouth, such as the heart, diabetes, pregnancy, and chronic inflammation, such as arthritis, to name a few. In addition to complications for teeth and gums, research has linked periodontal disease to other health problems, such as heart complications, strokes, diabetes complications, and respiratory problems. Most oral diseases and conditions share modifiable risk factors, such as tobacco consumption, alcohol consumption and an unhealthy diet high in free sugars, which are common to the 4 main non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes). Oral diseases, ranging from tooth decay and gum disease to oral cancer, cause pain and disability to millions of Americans and cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year.
Oral health can affect your physical and emotional well-being, as it can affect appearance, relationships, diet, nutrition and speech. It mainly affects children aged 2 to 6 who suffer from malnutrition, who are affected by infectious diseases, who live in extreme poverty with poor oral hygiene or with a weakened immune system. Dental exams and cleaning can help detect any oral condition or health complication caused by oral diseases. Oral health also affects a person's self-esteem, school performance, and attendance at work or school.
The burden of oral diseases and other non-communicable diseases can be reduced through public health interventions that address common risk factors. It's also best to schedule regular dental checkups every six months to ensure good oral health and hygiene. The majority of cases are dental decay (tooth decay), periodontal disease, oral cancers, oral trauma, cleft lip and palate fissures, and noma (serious gangrenous disease that begins in the mouth and mainly affects children).
