Take care of your oral health

World Oral Health is celebrated globally every year on the 20th of March and is the largest global awareness campaign for oral health. Around 90% of the world’s population will suffer from oral diseases at some point in their lifetime.

Dr Shubha Bhat, dentist at the District Six Community Centre, explains that Oral diseases are caused by the overgrowth of bacteria, mainly due to a combination of poor hygiene and poor diet, both which are easily preventable. “We are therefore spreading the message to the public about good oral hygiene practices for both adults and children.” 

Dr Bhat says that good oral health is important for your overall health. “Studies have shown that patients suffering from periodontal disease (gum disease) are at greater risk of having heart disease, stroke and diabetes complications. Poor oral hygiene results in chronic inflammation which affects many parts of the body. Also, certain bacteria in the mouth can be transported to your lungs, resulting in pneumonia. Keeping mouth clean can prevent a whole lot serious problems in the future other than a loss of tooth!”

The following guidelines are important contributors towards good oral hygiene:

• Brush your teeth twice a day – in the morning and before going to bed.
• Brushing harder doesn’t clean better.  Brushing hard damages the tooth and causes tooth sensitivity.
• Floss daily to prevent cavities in between teeth. Brushing alone does not reach these areas.
• Brush for at least 2 minutes.  Many people brush fast which does not adequately clean the teeth well.
• Avoid drinks and foods with high quantity of sugar. This is not only good for oral health but also overall health.

Many parents are misinformed about the importance of primary teeth (baby teeth) and therefore neglect their children’s oral hygiene. Dr Bhat explains that baby teeth are just important as permanent teeth. If baby teeth are removed early it will result in overcrowding and misalignment of permanent teeth making oral hygiene difficult to maintain. This negligence also results in children’s poor diet. “We must remember that good habits taught at early age grows into adulthood,” shares Dr Bhat.

Tips for parents for oral hygiene for children: 

• Use a clean, damp wash cloth (with toothpaste the size of rice grain) to gently wipe clean the first teeth and the front of the tongue, after meals and at bedtime.
• Never put your child to bed with bottle or food.
• If your child wants to have the bottle or sippy cup in between meals, try to fill it with water only
• Avoid giving your children sugary drinks (including juice) or sticky foods.
• Visit the dentist as soon as your baby’s first teeth appears.