Although these figures seem insignificant to many, the effects of an oral disease, in addition to being costly, are considerable.
Poor oral health can have profound impacts on overall health and quality of life," said Dr Poul Erik Petersen, WHO Global Program Coordinator for Oral Health. "Pain, dental abscesses, Problems with eating or chewing, missing teeth, and discolored or damaged teeth have important effects on people's daily lives and well-being.
Dr. Brenda Isabel Achon adds that the problem is more complex than is believed: "The mouth is one of the places with the highest concentration of microorganisms in the entire body and the presence of cavities includes the presence of a greater number of bacteria. The oral cavity is not an isolated system; it is part of the digestive system and is closely related to the respiratory system. Nutrients absorbed in the digestive system pass into the bloodstream, so any event that occurs in the mouth will affect the rest of the system. organism.
It is established that oral infections, especially periodontitis, affect the course and pathogenesis of several systemic diseases, among others: cardiovascular disease, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes mellitus and low birth weight of newborns.
Specialists in periodontal disease maintain in their study
"Periodontal disease as a risk of systemic diseases" -Dr. Maritza Peña Sisto, Dr. Liliana Peña Sisto - that both periodontal disease and diabetes mellitus have genetic factors, and microbiological and immunological alterations in common. They highlight that the evidence reflects that glycemia stabilizes after periodontal treatment and periodontal disease produces destabilization of glycemia.
When brushing is not enoughFollowing the indications for proper care, nutrition and hygiene, it is unlikely that cavities will appear, highlights Dr. Achon "There are teeth that erupt with defects in their enamel and are more vulnerable to the appearance of cavities; these teeth probably require additional measures for the prevention of cavities, such as the placement of resins or sealants."
Using a toothbrush is not the only way to prevent cavities. The brush only removes the plaque found on the occlusal and free surfaces of the teeth, but does not reach the interproximal parts, that is, the contact points between tooth and tooth. The only way to clean the contact spaces is by using dental floss. We can also incorporate the use of mouthwashes with fluoride to strengthen the acid attack parts of plaque.
There are also physical methods to prevent cavities, which are applied directly to the teeth, especially the molars; If we look at a tooth closely, we will see that it has small grooves or "lines", which is where food residues get trapped. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to place Sealants on these surfaces, which is like a varnish that seals the grooves, isolating them from the oral cavity and therefore from food remains. These are mainly recommended for permanent teeth and in cases where the child has a very high rate of cavities.
According to a WHO report, it is estimated that five billion people on the planet have suffered from dental caries and although there is slight progress in reducing dental caries among the young population of developed countries, for many older people it continues. being one of the main sources of pain and poor health.
This report establishes that oral health systems must be oriented towards primary health care services and prevention primarily.
The priorities that must be considered in the WHO global oral health program are modifiable risk factors such as oral hygiene habits, sugar consumption, lack of calcium and micronutrients and smoking, as well as addressing of the main sociocultural determinants, such as poverty, low level of education and lack of traditions that promote oral health.
Dental care should not be limited only to a specific month but throughout the year try to maintain oral hygiene habits, it is in your hands, avoid illness due to cavities.
