Although the mouth is part of the body, we often think of it as something separate. We often ignore bleeding or tender gums, while an irritation or pain elsewhere in the body would mean a trip to the doctor.
Poor oral health can affect a person’s quality of life. Oral pain, missing teeth or oral infections can influence the way a person speaks, eats and socializes. These problems can reduce a person’s quality of life by affecting their physical, mental and social well-being.
The reality is that oral health problems could be a sign of something serious such as oral cancer. Every year approximately 3,200 Canadians are diagnosed with oral cancer and 1,050 deaths from oral cancer occur. This devastating disease has a low survival rate because it is often diagnosed very late. With early detection the survival rate of oral cancer can be greatly improved. This means going to your dentist for regular dental exams. Dentists have the training and experience to detect oral cancer early.
Everything that happens in your mouth affects your whole body, which is why it is so important to visit a dentist regularly. Regular dental exams help prevent small problems from getting worse.
As part of a healthy lifestyle and to help reduce the risk of oral disease, follow CDA’s steps to good oral health:
– keep your mouth clean;
– check your mouth regularly for sings of gum disease or oral cancer;
– eat well, including munching on healthy snacks;
– see your dentist regularly; and
– don’t smoke or chew tobacco.
The CDA also recommends not waiting for a toothache or a dental emergency to look for a dentist. They suggest asking for recommendations from friends, family, neighbours, or co-workers. If moving, ask your current dentist for a referral in the new area.
Research has shown an association between oral disease and other health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke, respiratory illness in older adults, as well as pre-term and low-birth-weight babies. Although researchers are just beginning to understand this relationship, evidence shows keeping a healthy mouth is an important part of leading a healthy life.
