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By: Grace Sowon Park
What is Oral Health?
"We are what we eat."
-Ludwig Feuerbach
When we eat healthy, we are healthy. We eat junk, we feel like junk. Though it is a simple thing going into our bodies, food builds what we are. This is an analogy to our oral health. Oral health includes everything that enables us to perform daily functions with our mouths, whether when we eat with family, talk on the phone, or even smile for a picture. The amount of effort we put into flossing, brushing, washing all contribute to everything that makes up our oral system...and much more.
Oral, meaning related to the mouth, can be overlooked by many when discussing health. It is not a surprise: when asked to name an oral illness, most would be limited to thinking of tooth decay or cavities. Though we practice good hygiene, annual checkups, and routine brushing to regulate oral health, the mouth is not the only organ we are protecting.
Beyond the Mouth
How do we take care of our teeth? More generally, the oral cavity (the mouth)? We floss and brush our teeth daily and we have a natural aid of saliva that neutralizes the acids that could potentially deteriorate tooth enamels, allowing development of strong defense mechanisms against common oral illnesses.
However, if we are unable to maintain adequate care, our body is in higher risk of both minor and major diseases. Our mouths are a gateway to many essential systems in our body and lead to the opening of the digestive and respiratory tracts which could cause major diseases that are hardly oral. Most of the time, the bacteria build up in the mouth caused by a lack of hygiene cause infections in the respiratory and digestive systems, which could plausibly lead to further health issues.
What are some of the major diseases that are associated with oral health?
However, just as how one cavity could lead to the other, a disease could stimulate another.
Studies suggest that chronic diseases such as periodontitis, commonly known as gum disease, could increase risks for other periodontal illnesses of the following:
Diabetes
Heart and Kidney diseases
Alzheimer's
Asthma
Deterioration to immune system
Osteoporosis
Cancer
Endocarditis
Cardiovascular disease
Difficulty in pregnancy/birth
Pneumonia
HIV/AIDS
What can you do better your oral health?
We can all take extras steps to secure our health for both the mouth and the body as a whole:
Replace your toothbrush every 2-3 month to maintain hygiene (every other month when using an electric brush) - though not visible, bacteria could pile on toothbrushes over time.
Avoid sugary foods/drinks- prevent cavities and ensure healthy diet for the body
Brush your teeth BEFORE eating breakfast- the mouth has the most bacteria out of any other part of the body. It hosts more than 600 types of bacteria, and brushing after you eat means you have likely consumed millions of bacteria along with your delicious breakfast.
After flossing and brushing, rinse your mouth with mouthwash- this ensures to rinse out excess food particles and strengthens your hygiene.
Oral health is FOR.ALL
References
“Oral Health Conditions.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6 Apr. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/index.html#:~:text=Certain%20chronic%20conditions%20increase%20one%27s,risk%20factor%20for%20gum%20disease.
“Oral Health: A Window to Your Overall Health.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 28 Oct. 2021, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475.
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