March 20 of each year is designated as World Oral Health Day. This day aims to raise public awareness about oral hygiene and oral diseases.
It is a fact that 90% of the population will develop some oral disease during their lifetime. Therefore, information on the prevention and timely treatment of oral diseases concerns all of us.
Epidemiology
According to data, 3.9 billion people worldwide suffer from some oral disease, and about half of the world's population suffers from untreated dental caries. In developing countries, this situation is much worse, due to the lack of accessible health and dental care.
What burdens oral health?
Neglect of oral health leads to a significant decrease in the quality of life of the person. Poor oral condition is caused by inadequate care, poor eating habits, various diseases of the body, smoking and overconsumption of alcohol. In fact, the latter two increase the risk of developing serious diseases, such as oral cancer.
The neglect of oral health also includes a non-regular visit to the dentist. The dentist, in addition to regular oral care, checks and recognizes any ailments in a timely manner. In this way, faster and more effective treatment is achieved. Early diagnosis and treatment is very critical, especially for serious medical conditions.
Diseases
The most common diseases in the oral cavity are:
- Tooth decay (caries)
- Periodontal diseases (eg gingivitis, periodontitis)
- Abscesses (ulcers of the oral mucosa that cause pain)
- Oral infections
- Cancer of the mouth
- Poor jaw closure
What symptoms should concern us?
If you notice any of the following symptoms, you should visit your dentist immediately, as they may be due to a serious condition:
- White or red lesions in the oral cavity, lasting more than 14 days
- Unexplained bleeding
- Unexplained numbness, pain/hypersensitivity in the oral cavity or face
- Persistent wounds or ulcers in the mouth, throat or face that do not heal within 14 days
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, moving the jaw or tongue
- Change in the way teeth or dentures fit together
Connection with other diseases
Research has shown that oral diseases may be involved in the pathogenesis of some diseases of the body. This makes oral hygiene even more necessary. Examples of diseases associated with oral diseases are:
- Cardiovascular Diseases (stroke, atherosclerotic plaque buildup, endocarditis, etc.)
- Pneumonia (aspiration pneumonia)
- Pregnancy complications (premature birth, underweight newborn)
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Pancrea/ Kidney Cancer
- Alzheimer's disease
Basic Oral Hygiene Guidelines
Prevention is always preferable to treatment. Therefore, proper oral hygiene should become a habit that we will follow daily, for the rest of our lives. By becoming responsible and meticulous, we save ourselves the hassle and high costs of dental treatment. The basic rules of oral hygiene are:
- We brush our teeth, at least twice a day
- We brush our teeth properly and for at least 3 minutes
- We prefer a medium or soft toothbrush - we change it every 3 months
- We use dental floss at least once a day
- We use interdental brushes if we have holders, dental bridges, implants or braces
- We drink plenty of water throughout the day
- If we suspect that during sleep we grind our teeth, we inform the dentist
- We do not forget to visit the dentist every 6 months to clean and check the teeth
- We follow a healthy diet, rich in consumption of fruits and vegetables, low in sugar and without processed foods
- We avoid smoking
- We avoid excessive alcohol consumption
- We wear a protective splint when doing contact sports
Referencias
https://www.hygeia.gr/stomatiki-ygieini-20-martioy-pagkosmia-imera-stomatikis-ygeias/
https://www.sansimera.gr/worldays/347
https://www.acropolispharmacy.gr/blog/παγκοσμια-ημερα-στοματικησ-υγειασ-203.htm
https://www.2happy.gr/blog/παγκόσμια-ημέρα-στοματικής-υγείας/
https://www.gepgroup.gr/myhealthmatters-20-martiou-pagkosmia-imera-stomatikis-ugeias/
https://prosthetologos-giannitsa.gr/pagkosmia-imera-stomatikis-ygias-2019/
https://www.healthdays.gr/world-day/παγκόσμια-ημέρα-στοματικής-υγείας/2024-03-20/
https://psomaderis.gr/stomatiki-ugeia/
https://medicalpq.gr/poso-simantiki-einai-i-sosti-diatrofi-gia-tin-stomatiki-ygeia/
https://dentalsmiles.gr/el/arthrografia/1257/stomatiki-ygia-vasi-genikoteri-ygia-tou-organismou/
https://www.kathimerini.gr/k/k-magazine/562400167/i-kali-ygei-a-xekina-apo-to-sto-ma/
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