Oral Health Prevention for Adults
Adults face various oral health challenges such as cavities, gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancer. More than 40% of adults report having felt pain in their mouth within the last year. To prevent these issues, several measures can be taken. Firstly, it's crucial to avoid tobacco. If you smoke, quitting is highly recommended as the more you smoke or come into contact with smoke, the higher your risk of developing cancer. Secondly, be moderate in alcohol consumption. Excessive drinking increases the risk of head and neck cancer. Also, get vaccinated against Human papillomavirus (HPV) as it can infect the mouth and throat and cause cancer. For those with diabetes, managing the condition is essential as it may require more frequent teeth cleaning to help lower blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of gum disease. If medication causes dry mouth, consult your doctor for alternatives or take measures like drinking plenty of water, chewing sugarless gum, avoiding tobacco and alcohol.
Oral Health Practices
Actively practice good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth well twice a day and floss between your teeth to remove dental plaque. Drink fluoridated water and brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste. When participating in contact sports or high-risk activities, wear a mouthguard. Visit the dentist at least once a year, even if you wear dentures. Clean your dentures daily if possible. If you have difficulty brushing or flossing, ask your doctor for assistance.
Community and State Actions for Oral Health Prevention
State and community actions play a significant role in preventing oral diseases. This includes increasing options for affordable healthy foods for people of all ages as they strengthen bones, teeth, and gums. Support Quitlines and smokefree environments as tobacco products are linked to head and neck cancer. Provide connection to HPV vaccination resources. Permit oral health providers to perform the full range of permitted dental work to increase access. Support the application of fluoride in all healthcare settings and participate in school dental sealant programs. Adjust fluoride levels in water to the best level to prevent cavities.
Importance of Oral Health Prevention
Preventing oral diseases is not only crucial for individual well-being but also has significant economic and social implications. The US loses over $45 billion in productivity each year due to untreated oral disease, which could have been allocated to other essential areas like roads, job training, schools, and parks. There are more than 2 million emergency room visits each year for dental emergencies, with Medicaid spending a considerable amount per visit. Providing dental sealants to children from low-income households could save on dental treatment costs. Moreover, almost 1 in 5 Americans live in areas with too few dental providers, resulting in poorer oral health over their lifespan.
Oral Health Goals and Objectives
The goal is to improve oral health by increasing access to oral healthcare, including preventive services. Several objectives have been set, such as increasing the proportion of oral and pharyngeal cancers detected at the earliest stage, reducing the proportion of adults and children with active or untreated tooth decay, increasing the use of the oral healthcare system, and reducing the proportion of people who can't get the dental care they need when they need it. Meeting these objectives requires individual efforts, community support, and policy changes.
Global Perspective on Oral Health Prevention
Oral diseases pose a major health burden globally, affecting nearly 3.5 billion people. Untreated dental caries is common, and prevention and treatment are often expensive and not covered by national universal health coverage in many countries. Risk factors include sugar consumption, tobacco use, alcohol use, and poor hygiene. The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken steps to promote oral health prevention through resolutions and strategies, emphasizing a shift from curative to preventive approaches and including oral health in the non-communicable disease (NCD) agenda and universal health coverage benefit packages.
Oral health prevention is of utmost importance. By adopting healthy habits, such as avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol, maintaining good oral hygiene, and seeking regular dental check-ups, individuals can significantly reduce the risk of oral diseases. At the community and state levels, implementing measures like providing access to healthy foods, promoting HPV vaccination, and adjusting water fluoride levels can contribute to overall oral health improvement. Achieving the set goals and objectives for oral health requires a collective effort from all stakeholders to ensure a healthier future for everyone.
