Oral Health

Oral Health

Oral health is a term which describes freedom from mouth and facial pain, mouth cancer, oral sores and ulcers, birth defects such as cleft lip and palate, gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss, and other diseases and disorders that affect the mouth. Oral disease is the presence of at least one of these conditions.

COMMON CAUSES OF ORAL DISEASE

Oral diseases share common risk factors with the four leading chronic diseases – cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes - these risk factors include an unhealthy diet, long term tobacco use, and high levels of alcohol consumption. Poor oral hygiene is also a risk factor.

Public Health Importance of Oral Diseases

  • High prevalence of dental diseases
  • Impact on individuals and society is great
  • Pain, discomfort, functional limitation and handicap are common, and these can affect the quality of life
  • Self esteem
  • Limited food choices
  • Financial cost to the individual and community
  • Cost of treatment is high

Oral Health Facts

  • The most common oral diseases are dental cavities and gum disease.
  • 60-90% of school children worldwide have dental cavities.
  • Severe gum disease, which may result in tooth loss, is found in 5-20% of middle-aged adults; the rate varies across geographical regions.
  • Incidence of mouth cancer ranges from one to 10 cases per 100 000 population in most countries.
  • Birth defects such as cleft lip and palate occur in around one per 500-700 of all births; the birth prevalence rate varies substantially across ethnic groups and geographical areas.
  • 40-50% of people who are HIV-positive have oral fungal, bacterial or viral infections, which often occur early in the course of HIV infection.
  • Restorative dental care is a major economic burden for many high-income countries, where 5-10% of public health expenditure relates to oral health.
  • City & Hackney has one of the lowest levels of oral health in children in the UK.
  • 1% of adults under 44 has no teeth (13% in 1978)
  • 83% have a functioning set of teeth
  • 66% have worn out teeth
  • 54% have gum disease

Reducing The Burden of Oral Diseases

Oral Health promotion is an effective way of helping to reduce the burden of oral disease.

  • Oral health promotion can be defined as public health actions to protect or improve oral health and promote oral well-being through behavioural, educational and enabling socio-economic, legal, fiscal, environmental, and social measures

The burden of oral diseases and other chronic diseases can be decreased simultaneously by addressing common risk factors such as tobacco use and unhealthy diet:

  • Decreased intake of sugars and well-balanced nutrition to prevent tooth decay and premature tooth loss.
  • Tobacco cessation and decreased alcohol consumption to reduce risk for mouth cancer, periodontal disease, and tooth loss.
  • Fruit and vegetable consumption in order to protect against mouth cancer.
  • Effective use of protective sports and motor vehicle equipment to reduce facial injuries.

Dental cavities can be prevented by a low level of fluoride constantly maintained in the mouth. Fluoride can be obtained from fluoridated drinking water, salt, milk, mouth rinse or more commonly from toothpaste, as well as from professionally-applied fluorides products. Long-term exposure to an optimal level of fluoride results in fewer cavities in both children and adults.

By using these prevention strategies, the high cost of dental treatments can be avoided and the quality of life can be improved and maintained.

For more information on how to incorporate oral health into wellbeing programmes contact Dr Manuba Eke
Healthy Lifestyle Program Manager - Oral Health
Public Health Department
NHS Tower Hamlets
Aneurin Bevan House
81 Commercial Road
London, E1 1RD
E: manuwuba.eke@thpct.nhs.uk
T: 020 7092 5144