Why oral hygiene?
Poor oral hygiene can lead to direct local mouth diseases, such as dental cavities, gum disease, bad breath, oral thrush (fungi), tooth discoloration. It has also been linked indirectly to other diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is a lifelong commitment.
Facts about dental and oral health
Dental cavities and gum disease are very common. According to The World Health Organization:
-Between 60 and 90 percent of school children have at least one dental cavity.
-Nearly 100 percent of adults have at least one dental cavity, and between 15 and 20 percent of adults ages 35 to 44 have severe gum disease.
-About 30 percent of people around the world ages 65 to 74 don’t have any natural teeth left.
-In most countries, out of every 100,000 people, there are between 1 and 10 cases of oral cancer.
The burden of oral disease is much higher in poor or disadvantaged population groups.
Mouth/teeth problems need sanitization
Bad breath
What is bad breath/oral odor and why does it occur?
The complaint of bad breath is a very common problem. It has been reported that 30% to 50% of the results are seen in humans, in different scientific investigations
Bad breath is also known as halitosis. The concerns of bad breath may be divided into genuine and non-genuine cases. Of those who have genuine bad breath, about 85% of cases come from inside the mouth. The remaining cases are believed to be due to disorders in the nose, sinuses, throat, lungs, esophagus, or stomach. In rare cases, bad breath can be due to an underlying medical condition such as liver failure or ketoacidosis. Non-genuine cases occur when someone feels they have bad breath but someone else cannot detect it. This is estimated to make up between 5% and 72% of cases.
Treatment
For bad breath causes related to oral health i.e. a buildup of bacteria (plaque) on teeth, it is recommended to use an oral mouth rinse that kills the bacteria. In addition, it is recommended to brush your teeth after you eat, floss at least once a day, brush your tongue, clean dentures or dental appliances, avoid dry mouth, avoid certain foods causing bad breath, get a new toothbrush and schedule regular dental checkups.
Tooth decay
Tooth decay, also known as dental carries or cavities, is the breakdown of teeth due to acids made by bacteria. Complications may include inflammation of the tissue around the tooth, tooth loss and abscess formation.
The cause of cavities is acid from bacteria dissolving the hard tissue of the teeth. The acid is produced by the bacteria when they break down food debris or sugar on the tooth surface.
Protection
Proper regular oral hygiene through teeth brushing and the use of proper mouthwashes protect teeth against tooth decay.
Oral Candidiasis
Oral candidiasis is also known as oral thrush. The disease is caused mainly by yeast/fungal infection called candida. Candida albicans is the most commonly organism that causes this condition.
Treatment
The candidal load in the mouth can be reduced by improving oral hygiene measures, such as regular tooth brushing and use of anti-microbial mouthwashes.
Oral candidiasis can be treated with topical antifungal drugs.