Oral hygiene

The importance of oral hygiene

Oral hygiene is key to preventing problems such as cavities, gum disease and bad breath (halitosis).

Poor oral health allows bacteria to build up in your mouth and potentially cause infections. For example, if an infection is present in your mouth, your bloodstream can carry the bacteria to other areas of your body, leading to other health concerns like heart disease and stroke. So, keeping your teeth and gums healthy is an important part of long-lasting overall health.

The importance of oral care before surgery

Teeth and gums can be a major source of bacteria and can lead to infection. Such bacteria can enter the bloodstream or the lungs, causing complications during or after surgery, such as lung infection (pneumonia) or blood infection (sepsis).

Conditions linked to poor oral health

Research shows gum infection can contribute to certain health conditions, including:

Cardiovascular disease
Stroke
Endocarditis (infection of your heart's inner lining)
Pneumonia
Pregnancy complications, such as premature birth and low birth weight.

Further to this, there are certain health conditions that can have a negative impact on your teeth and gums:

Diabetes
Osteoporosis
HIV/AIDS
Alzheimer's disease

There are several warning signs that could indicate oral health problems or poor oral hygiene:

Bleeding and sore gums
Mouth and jaw pain
Tooth decay
Chronic bad breath
Loose or lost teeth
Changes in tooth surfaces and enamel
Gum recession
Mouth sores that don't go away
Toothache
Swelling of the jaw
Gingivostomatitis, an infection of the mouth caused by certain bacteria or viruses.

Prevention

The burden of oral diseases and other noncommunicable diseases can be reduced through public health interventions by addressing common risk factors.

These include:

Promoting a well-balanced diet low in free sugars and high in fruit and vegetables, and favouring water as the main drink;
stopping use of all forms of tobacco, including chewing of areca nuts;
reducing alcohol consumption; and encouraging use of protective equipment when doing sports and travelling on bicycles and motorcycles (to reduce the risk of facial injuries).
Adequate exposure to fluoride is an essential factor in the prevention of dental caries.
An optimal level of fluoride can be obtained from different sources such as fluoridated drinking water, salt, milk and toothpaste.
Twice-daily tooth brushing with fluoride-containing toothpaste (1000 to 1500 ppm) should be encouraged 13.

Members can access Basic dentistry benefit at 100% of the Scheme Rate. Subject to the applicable GBP limits, thereafter from available MSA. Surgery is subject to preauthorisation and using a DSP. This includes minor oral surgery and other oral procedures performed by dental practitioners, plastic dentures and the applicable dental technicians' and therapists' fees.

https://www.woononadentists.com.au/inadequate-dentition-tooth-loss
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16914-oral-hygiene
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov