Is poor oral health related to any other health problems?

Yes, poor health does show its impact on the oral health of the individual. Various studies have shown that:

- Periodontal (gum) disease and stroke, heart disease and pre-term low-birth-weight babies are all interconnected.
- Majority of the people with systemic diseases have oral problems as their first symptom. Thus, it is easy to diagnose if a person is suffering from some disease.
- Mostly the mouth tissue is affected when a person suffers from some health problem.
- Diseases like diabetes, leukemia, cancer, heart diseases and kidney diseases show symptoms such as swollen gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth or excessive gum problems.

Does poor oral health have any effect on that individual?

Yes, poor oral health affects an individual’s quality of life. The problems faced during poor oral health are:

- Facial pain due to the gum infections, tooth loss and bad breath.
- Mouth infections also show their impact on the major organs like in case of inflammation of the lining of the heart and heart valves due to bacterial endocarditis.
- Oral problems also cause intestinal failure, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other problems.
- Dental caries, which is one of the most common infections seen in children, is caused due to irregular eating habits.
- Improper oral health may also cause oral cancer.

What will I have to do to prevent this?

Taking good care of the oral cavity would prevent you from any sort of oral diseases. Certain tips that would help in the prevention are:

- By brushing the teeth followed by flossing twice a day without fail
- By using fluoride containing tooth paste
- Avoiding the consumption of the chocolates and other sugary foods.
- Regular dental check ups at least twice a year.
- By consuming good nutrition that would support the oral health. For example,
. Dairy products: calcium and vitamin D to provide strength to the teeth.
. Bread and cereals: Vitamin D for strength and growth. And iron for healthy blood.
. Fruits and vegetables with vitamin C: For healthy gums.
. Meat, fish and eggs: iron, protein, magnesium and zinc for teeth.
- By quitting smoking.

What if I am already facing poor oral health?

Consulting a good dentist and getting treated is the only way to get rid of the dental problems apart from following the above tips to prevent any further damage.

What are the dental treatments available for oral diseases?

The major oral disease that needs treatment is periodontal (gum) disease. It is a bacterial disease that forms a colorless plaque on the teeth. Various treatments involved in treating this disease are:

Non-Surgical Treatments: In this treatment, scaling and root planing are done. Root planing is a process which includes removal of the plague and the bacterial toxins from the root surfaces. After this, adjunctive therapy is done in which either antimicrobials are delivered or host modulation is done accordingly.

Periodontal Surgery: A surgery is suggested for them whose gums are also affected along with their teeth and when non surgical treatments are not efficient enough to treat them. Generally, four types of surgeries are performed. They are:

- Pocket reduction surgery
- Regenerative procedure
- Crown lengthening
- Soft tissue grafts

Laser therapy: Laser therapy is generally not suggested for every one. Laser treatment when followed by the non surgical methods like scaling and root planing is found to be much effective. This therapy involves less bleeding, swelling and discomfort to the patient during the surgery. But it has to be performed by a highly experienced dentist. Inappropriate wavelengths when used cause severe non repairable damage to the tissues.

Dental implants: Dental implants are done when a patient loses a tooth due to periodontal (gum) disease or other reasons. Permanent replacement of the damaged tooth is carried out in this treatment.

Cosmetic Procedures: Cosmetic treatment is done only when the patient wishes. It is done to enhance the smile. It includes methods like

- Ridge augmentation
- Soft tissue grafts
- Crown lengthening