Download World Oral Health Day - The Public Hospitals Authority of The

World Oral Health Day (WOHD) is celebrated every year on 20 March. It is an international
day to highlight the benefits of a healthy mouth and promote worldwide awareness of issues
around oral health and the importance to everyone old and young of looking after oral
hygiene.
The theme for World Oral Health Day 2015 is ‘Smile for life’ to remind people everywhere
about the importance of looking after their teeth and gums; and has a double meaning.
'Lifelong smile' and 'celebrating life.'
The very first international day related to oral health was celebrated in 1994, the
International Year of Oral Health, when the World Health Organisation's World Health Day
was dedicated to oral health.
Over 90% of the world’s population will suffer some form of dental disease in their lifetime
but many of these can easily be treated or prevented with a good oral care routine.
Here are Some Common
Dental Conditions & Diseases
Dental conditions and diseases can range from mild, reversible problems to complex, costly, irreversible
problems for a patient. There are numerous diseases that affect each part of our mouths, including our teeth,
gums, tongue, and bones. Each condition or disease has its own set of symptoms, causes and treatment.
Yet, each one has similar prevention methods to use.
Here’s a list of the most common dental conditions and diseases.
Abscessed Tooth: An abscessed tooth is one that is infected in the dental pulp,
or the inside of the tooth where the nerves and tissues come together. The number
one cause of tooth abscess is tooth decay.
Bad Breath (Halitosis): Bad breath is the third leading reason why dental care is
sought, behind tooth decay and periodontal disease.
Gingivitis: Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that is reversible if treated early
enough. If left untreated, it can develop into a more severe form of gum disease.
Gum Disease (Periodontal Disease): Gum disease is the most common term
used for periodontal disease however, there are other names referring to gum disease.
Gum Infection/Disease: Gum infections are treatable issues that occur
in and around the gums and on the gum line.
Meth Mouth: Not everyone who suffers from meth mouth is a drug
abuser. However, meth users did give this rampant tooth decaying
condition a name for a reason.
Oral Cancer: There are several different types of oral cancers that can
affect your speech, eating and chewing techniques.
Gum Cancer: Gum cancer is the cancer within the gums.
Oral Herpes: Oral herpes, commonly known as cold sores or fever
blisters, is usually contracted at birth. Although symptoms may subside,
the virus never leaves the body.
Oral Thrush: Thrush is a yeast infection that occurs in the mouth. It
mainly happens to infants and older people, but it can occur to anyone
at any age.
Overbite: An overbite is a dental condition where the upper teeth
extend forward, covering the lower teeth. This is a very common
condition that many people don’t realize they have because their overbite
is not serious enough to seek dental attention.
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism): Teeth grinding can affect everyone, ranging
from children to seniors. Though studies have been done, no real
conclusions have been made about the cause of bruxism.
Tooth Decay: Worldwide, tooth decay is one of the most common oral
health problems. Children are most susceptible to cavities and tooth
decay, but it can happen to anyone who has teeth, including infants,
adults and seniors.
Tooth Decay
Your Oral Health Care Plan
Good oral health involves more than just brushing. To keep your teeth and mouth healthy
for a lifetime of use, there are steps that you should follow. Here's what you should consider:
1. Understand your own oral health needs and Visit your dentist regularly. Talk with your
dentist, other oral health care specialist, or hygienist about any special conditions in your mouth
and any ways in which your medical/health conditions affect your teeth or oral health. For example,
cancer treatments, pregnancy, heart diseases, diabetes, dental appliances (dentures, braces) can all impact your oral health
and may necessitate a change in the care of your mouth and/or teeth. The standard recommendation is to visit your dentist
twice a year for check-ups and cleanings.
2. Develop, then follow, a daily oral health routine. Based on discussions with your oral health care provider about health
conditions you may have, develop an oral health routine that is easy to follow on a daily basis.
3. Use fluoride. Children and adults benefit from fluoride use. Fluoride strengthens developing teeth in children and
prevents tooth decay in both children and adults.
4. Brush and floss daily. Brush your teeth at least twice a day (morning and before bed time) and floss at least once a day.
Better still, brush after every meal and snack. These activities remove plaque, which if not removed, combines with sugars
to form acids that lead to tooth decay. Bacterial plaque also causes gum disease and other periodontal diseases.
5. Eat a balanced diet and limit snacking. Eat a variety of foods, but eat fewer foods that contain sugars and starches (for
example, cookies, cakes, pies, candies, ice cream, dried fruits and raisins, soft drinks, potato chips). These foods produce the
most acids in the mouth, which begin the decay process. If you do snack, brush teeth afterward or chew sugarless gum.
6. If you use tobacco products, quit. Smoking cigarettes or using smokeless tobacco products increases the risk of oral
cancer and cancers of the larynx, pharynx and esophagus; gum disease; bad breath; tooth discoloration; and other oral and
general health problems.
7. Examine your mouth regularly. Become familiar with the appearance of your own mouth and teeth through frequent
examination. This way, you will be able to catch any changes at an early stage. Look for the development of any spots,
lesions, cuts, swellings, or growths on your gums, tongue, cheeks, inside of your lips, and floor and roof of your mouth.
Examine your teeth for any signs of chipping or cracking, discoloration, and looseness. If you experience a change in your
bite or develop pain, call your dentist as soon as possible.
To further prevent tooth decay, you should follow a few extra guidelines
regarding your diet. This can help to keep the amount of acid created
by the bacteria on your teeth to a minimum. Here are some tips:
1. Limit between-meal snacking. Fewer snacks mean less acid exposure for your teeth.
If you snack, choose foods that are not fermentable carbohydrates.
Best choices — Cheese, chicken or other meats, or nuts. These foods actually may help protect tooth enamel. They do this by
neutralizing acids or by providing the calcium and phosphorus needed to put minerals back in the teeth.
Moderate choices — Firm fruits such as apples and pears and vegetables. Firm fruits contain natural sugars. However, their high
water content dilutes the effects of the sugars. These fruits also stimulate the flow of saliva, which fights bacteria and helps protect
against decay. Vegetables do not contain enough carbohydrates to be dangerous.
Worst choices — Candy, cookies, cakes, crackers, breads, muffins, potato chips, french fries, pretzels, bananas, raisins and other dried
fruits. These foods provide a source of sugar that certain bacteria can use to produce acid. The problem can be worse if the foods
stick to teeth or get caught between them.
2. Limit the amount of soft drinks or any other drinks that contain sugar. These include coffee or tea with added sugar, cocoa and
lemonade. Fruit juices contain natural sugars that also can cause decay. Limit the amount of time you take to drink any of these
drinks. Avoid sipping them throughout the day. A can of soda that you finish with a meal exposes your teeth to acids for a shorter
time than a soda that takes you two hours to drink.
Better choices — Unsweetened tea and water, especially fluoridated water. Tea also has fluoride, which
can strengthen tooth enamel. Water helps flush away bits of food. It also can dilute the sugar acids.
3. Avoid sucking on hard candies or mints, even the tiny ones. They have enough sugar to increase the acid
produced by bacteria to decay levels. If you need a mint, use the sugarless varieties.
4. Limit very acidic foods (such as citrus fruits) because they can make the mouth more acidic.
This may contribute to a loss of minerals in the teeth. The effects of acid exposure add up over time.
5. Brush your teeth after eating and after drinking sugary drinks, to remove the plaque bacteria that create the destructive acids.
Sugar-free soft drinks can erode your teeth, too. If you cannot brush after every meal, brush at least twice a day.
6. Chew sugarless gum that contains xylitol. This can help reduce the risk of cavities. The gum helps dislodge some of the food stuck
to your teeth. It also increases saliva flow to help neutralize the acids.
Brought to you by the
Corporate Communications Department
Public Hospitals Authority
We welcome your Comments and Suggestions
Source: The World Wide Web