Although the mouth is part of the body, many people often think of it as something separate.
They 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 oral health 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. Your dentist has 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 your dentist regularly.
Only your dentist has the training, skills and expertise to properly address all your oral healthcare needs. 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 the Canadian Dental Association’s (CDA) five steps to good oral health.
Most of us realize that diet and exercise play an important part in keeping us healthy. But did you know that a healthy mouth is also an important part of a healthy body?
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 oral health problems can reduce a person’s quality of life by affecting their physical, mental and social well-being.
Oral disease, like any other disease, needs to be treated. A chronic infection, including one in the mouth, is a serious problem that should not be ignored. Yet bleeding or tender gums are often overlooked.
Research has shown there is 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 that oral disease can aggravate other health problems and that keeping a healthy mouth is an important part of leading a healthy life.
Five steps to a healthy mouth include:
1. Keep your mouth clean: Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
Wait at least 20 to 30 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth.
Floss every day.
Eat a well-balanced diet.
Limit foods and beverages containing sugar or carbohydrates. Ideal snack foods include cheese, nuts, vegetables and non-acidic fruits.
Look for oral care products with the CDA seal.
2. Check your mouth regularly: look for signs of gum disease including, red, shiny, puffy, sore or sensitive gums, bleeding when you brush or floss and bad breath that won’t go away.
Look for signs of oral cancer:
– bleeding or open sores that don’t heal;
– white or red patches;
– numbness or tingling;
– small lumps and thickening on the sides or bottom of your tongue, the floor or roof of your mouth, the inside of your cheeks, or on your gums.
3. Eat well: good nutrition helps build strong teeth and gums.
Munch on mouth-healthy snacks like cheeses, nuts, vegetables and non-acidic fruits.
4. See your dentist regularly: 48 per cent of Canadians who haven’t seen a dentist in the past year have gum disease. Regular dental exams and professional cleanings are the best way to prevent and detect problems before they get worse.
5. Don’t smoke or chew tobacco: Smoking and chewing tobacco can cause oral cancer, heart disease, gum disease, and a variety of other cancers.
Provided by the Canadian Dental Association
