What is Oral Health Care?

What is Oral Health Care?

Most people understand that it's important to brush their teeth daily; however, most are not aware of the importance of complete oral health.

Keep the following in mind when speaking to patients.

Healthy Teeth & Gums An unhealthy mouth can lead to more than bad breath or tooth loss, it can lead to very poor health. Heart attack, stroke, diabetes related problems, and premature births can all be attributed to poor oral hygiene.

Much of what is in your mouth tells your doctor about your body in general.

A swab of saliva provides a world of information; just that very small amount can provide enough information for a doctor to make a diagnosis.

Many times, systemic diseases such as AIDS or diabetes begin to manifest as oral problems. Over 90% of systemic diseases have oral signs and symptoms. A test on saliva can be used to detect stress responses in newborns, children, and certain specific proteins can be used to monitor bone loss in women. In addition, certain cancer markers are also detectable in saliva. Additional detections in saliva include: • Illegal drugs • Toxins considered environmental • Hormones and antibodies • Hepatitis • HIV In the near future saliva tests may replace blood tests in certain circumstances, such as Parkinson's, diabetes, and various other infectious diseases.

Related: Top 10 Tips to Start Your Semester the Right Way Protection Filters Saliva is a body’s defense against disease causing organisms, including bacteria and virus. Saliva contains antibodies that will attack viral pathogens, including the common cold and HIV. It also contains histamines which are protein. When the proteins are weakened candida can begin to grow, which causes thrush mouth, a fungal infection. Saliva protects against other bacteria by inhibiting the growth before it can manifest into an illness.

Dental Plaque While saliva works to protect the mouth, it can only do so much. The fact is, there are more than 500 species of bacteria living inside the mouth at any given moment. The bacteria cause plaque, a sticky, colorless film that can cause problems. When plaque builds it can it can accumulate between the gum line and teeth, creating an infection known as gingivitis. If gingivitis gets worse, it can become periodontitis, which can lead to trench mouth.

Bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and can cause an infection or a buildup of plaque in the arteries.

Plaque entering the body can cause health problems – •

Poorly controlled diabetes. If you have diabetes, you're already at increased risk of developing gum disease. But the chronic gum disease may, in fact, make diabetes more difficult to control, as well. Infection may cause insulin resistance, which disrupts blood sugar control.

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Cardiovascular disease. Oral inflammation due to bacteria (gingivitis) may also play a role in clogged arteries and blood clots.

It appears that bacteria in the mouth may cause inflammation throughout the body, including the arteries. This inflammation may serve as a base for the development of atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries, possibly increasing your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Some research suggests that people with gum infections are also at increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The more severe the infection, the greater the risk appears to be, gum disease and tooth loss may contribute to plaques in the carotid artery. In one study, 46 percent of participants who'd lost up to nine teeth had carotid artery plaque; among those who'd lost 10 or more teeth, 60 percent of them had such plaque.

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Preterm birth. Severe gum disease may increase the risk of preterm delivery and giving birth to a low birth weight baby. The National Institute of Dental Research, in fact, estimates that as many as 18 percent of preterm, low birth weight babies born in the United States each year may be attributed to oral infections. The theory is that oral bacteria release toxins, which reach the placenta through the mother's bloodstream and interfere with the growth and development of the fetus. At the same time, the oral infection causes the mother to produce labor-triggering substances too

quickly, potentially triggering premature labor and birth.

Oral health is not only important for maintaining good dental hygiene, it is imperative to keep the body healthy.

Related: Healthy Snack Options for Busy Nurses Teaching Dental Hygiene Early Teaching children proper oral hygiene early in life is a good idea. By age 3 children should be able to begin brushing their own teeth, with adult supervision. Promoting healthy eating habits can help to avoid dental problems with children, and proper brushing techniques can assure good dental health later in life. Children can make use of apps that help time the brushing process to ensure teeth are clean. There are also special oral rinses for children that kill bacteria and help keep plaque away. Children also need to get plenty of calcium, and vitamin D, to assure strong teeth and healthy bones.

Good oral health is important at any age. In 1960, adults over the age of 60 had a 75% chance of losing at least one tooth, and usually more. Today that has dropped significantly to 25%. Older adults should continue to get proper amounts of calcium, if nutrition is a concern, opt for a product such as Ensure. A healthy mouth makes for a healthy and happy smile, no matter what the age.

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