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The importance of oral health
Oral health means more than just an attractive smile. Poor oral
health and untreated
oral diseases and conditions can have a significant impact on quality
of life. And in
many cases, the condition of the mouth mirrors the condition of
the body as a
whole. Recent reports indicate a relation ship may exist between
periodontal (gum)
disease and stroke, heart disease, and pre-term low-birth-weight
babies. Likewise,
more than 90 percent of all systemic diseases have oral manifestations,
meaning
your dentist may be the first health care provider to diagnose a
health problem.
What problems can poor oral health cause?
According to the recently released Surgeon General's report on oral
health in
America, a large percentage of the population suffers from a reduced
quality of life
due to oral and facial pain. This pain is largely due to infections
of the gums that
support the teeth and can lead to tooth loss. More than 75 percent
of the popula-
tion is affected by some type of periodontal disease or gingivitis.
Recent reports show that infections in the
mouth may affect major organs. One
example is bacterial endocarditis, a condition in which the lining
of the heart and
heart valves become inflamed. Poor mouth care also may contribute
to oral
cancer, which now takes more lives annually than cervical or skin
cancer.
In addition, poor oral health affects the digestive process, which
begins with physical and chemical activities in the mouth. Problems
here can lead to intestinal failure, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and
other problems.
What symptoms from other diseases show up
in the mouth?
Mouth tissues reflect symptoms of other problems. In addition, many
diseases can
be diagnosed in their early stages through an oral examination.
These diseases may
be characterized by swollen gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth and/or
excessive gum
problems. Some of these diseases include diabetes, leukemia, cancer,
heart disease
and kidney disease.
What can I do?
Seeing a dentist every six months can help identify diseases in
their earliest stages. It
also is important to provide your dentist with a complete medical/dental
history
and to inform him or her of any recent problems, even if they seem
unrelated to
your mouth.
What can my dentist do?
A regular exam allows your dentist to keep your mouth in tip-top
shape and watch
for developments that may point to problems elsewhere in your body.
A dental
exam also picks up on poor nutrition and hygiene, growth and development
prob-
lems and improper jaw alignment. According to a recent survey, 90
percent of
dentists said they counsel patients on home care for special oral
health care
needs resulting from chemotherapy or head and neck radiation therapy.
Eighty-
seven percent of dentists surveyed responded that they counsel patients
on
tobacco use, more than half provide direct counseling to patients.
Thirty-eight
percent of respondents also provide literature on the dangers of
tobacco and infor-
mation on tobacco cessation programs to patients, 17 percent refer
patients to their
primary care physician, and 14 percent directly refer patients to
cessation services.
This information was compiled for you by the Academy of General
Dentistry. Your dentist cares about long-term dental health for
you and your family and demonstrates that concern by belonging to
the Academy of General Dentistry. As one of the 37,000 general dentists
in the United States and Canada who are members of the Academy,
your dentist participates in an ongoing program of professional
development and continuing education to remain current with advances
in the profession and to provide quality patient treatment.
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