Ouch, Chew This! Half of the people in the world suffer from one of the other forms of oral disease. According to WHO, 50% of the population suffers from some or the other oral disease. Believe it or not, India’s dentist-to-population ratio is approximately 1:10,000. The recommendation by World Health Organisa-tion (WHO) is 1:7,500. The WHO has called for urgent action by incorporating oral health into non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Oral diseases in the world exceed the combined global burden of the next five most prevalent NCDs by almost a billion cases! Yet, oral dental health care continues to be the most neglected area by individuals across the globe.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO recently expressed concerns in the Global Oral Health Status Report saying:
“Oral health has long been neglected in the global health agenda. Our biggest challenge now is ensuring that all people, wherever they live and whatever their income, have the knowledge and tools needed to look after their teeth and mouths, and the access to prevention and care when they need it.”
Cavities and tooth decay have been on a sharp rise in recent years. A growing cavity or decay could also be due to a plethora of reasons.
The primary ones are either consuming too many sugary items or processed food items, not brushing one’s teeth well or simply being reluctant to visit the dentist for cleaning or other tooth and gum checkups.
Dr Nilesh S. Kadam MDS, Endodontist from Mumbai says, “In India, other habits like chewing tobacco, smoking as well as eating sticky sweets too, usually tend to contribute to such problems.” Dr Kadam opines that the lack of awareness about the role of dental health and well-being too, seems to be close to nil, which acts as another cause towards poor oral health in the country and across the globe.
A Common Problem
Cavities and tooth decay have become so common today that one may not take these seriously. However, something that may appear as harmless as cavities too, may have worrisome symptoms and repercussions.
From swollen gums to excruciating pain, an abscess that serves as a bacterial infection that causes fine little pockets of pus to form in the tooth to a decaying tooth on the verge of being broken down. Dr Kadam explains how many people avoid paying attention to their teeth.
He adds, “Since problems like cavities or gum diseases don’t always hurt initially, people tend to think these aren’t important. Only when there’s unbearable pain or a visible problem at hand do they consider visiting the dentist.”
This serves as a late measure undertaken to prevent damage that has now aggravated to substitutes such as root canals or worse, tooth extractions! Quite interestingly other issues such as stress or simply grinding your teeth at night could contribute towards dental health problems. While these are problems invited, there could be issues about the gums that would enter by themselves due to other underlying causes such as diabetes.
The Age Factor
The issue of dental health finds itself bulgy at the two ends of the spectrum. From those young to those nearing their old age. Here, young people (those in their 20ths) or even teens for that matter face a lot more issues with dental health care than those in the mid-range. The curve sees a spike again as the age bar crosses 60. Here, older adults too, especially those above a certain age may tend to have more dental issues as their teeth naturally tend to tear down over time.
Dr Kadam explains how in India specifically oral cancer is a life-threatening problem accounting for almost 30-40% of overall cancer cases.
He says, “While poor oral health such as gum diseases can make the mouth prone to infection, oral cancer usually is linked with smoking, chewing tobacco or heavy drinking.” Dr Kadam confidently adds, “Regular dental check-ups would surely help spot early signs of oral cancer.”
For Tooth-Sake
While tooth conditions may seem harmless for most, it is imperative to adhere to a protective culture when it comes to oral hygiene habits. It isn’t about using flashy toothpaste or brushes, but simple daily activities like brushing twice, avoiding sugary food items, rinsing one’s mouth with fluoride, visiting the dentist regularly to keep a check on one’s eating habits as well as tooth conditions and the list goes on.
Dr Kadam adds, “It’s important to remember that oral health is linked to one’s overall health and it isn’t simply
about looking good but it also helps you stay healthier in the long run.”
These smaller mindful measures wouldn’t just help save one from needless episodes and waves of shooting pain but it would also save one from bigger, costlier issues that could raise their heads down the line. Dr Kadam quips, “Start good habits early and don’t wait for a problem to show up before you next have to see a dentist!”
Happy Pearly Whites
l Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
l Floss daily to remove food and plaque between your teeth
l Visit your dentist for check-ups and cleanings (at least twice a year)
l Eat less sugar and avoid sugary drinks like soda (drink plenty of water instead)
l Don’t smoke, and limit alcohol to protect your gums and teeth
l If you grind your teeth at night, ask your dentist for a mouth-guard
l See a dentist if you notice any sores, pain, or bleeding gums
